The 2026 Comrades Marathon brings major road closures across KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 14 June 2026, as more than 22,000 runners tackle the up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, with rolling closures starting at midnight.
The 99th edition of the ultramarathon is an up run, starting at Durban City Hall on Dr Pixley KaSeme Street and finishing at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.
The route covers 85.77 kilometres of road that closes to ordinary traffic.
The up run sends athletes from the coast in Durban to the higher-lying Pietermaritzburg, climbing through the well-known Valley of a Thousand Hills.
It is widely regarded as the tougher direction, with the steady gain in altitude testing even the most seasoned ultramarathon runners over the long day.
Comrades Marathon road closures: which roads are affected
Rolling closures begin at midnight, with sections reopening as the field passes through. Affected stretches include Dr Pixley KaSeme Street, Joseph Nduli Road, the N3 West off-ramp to King Cetshwayo Highway, a contra-flow via 45th Cutting to the M13, and Cowies Hill.
Further along the route, motorists should expect closures on Josiah Gumede Road in Pinetown, the M13 through Kloof and Gillitts, the Old Main Road into Hillcrest, and the R103 towards Cato Ridge via Doonrug Road.
Roads reopen progressively once the runners and sweep vehicles clear each section.
Comrades Marathon start times and race-day plan
Race morning features two starts, at 05:45 and 06:00, easing congestion at the Durban City Hall start line.
The entire official route stays closed to non-accredited vehicles from early morning until the 12-hour cut-off in the evening, so locals are advised to plan trips around the race.
This year’s field numbers more than 22,000 entrants, one of the largest in the race’s recent history, and the event remains a fixture on the South African sporting calendar.
Supporters traditionally line the route through the night and into the day to cheer runners towards the finish.
Authorities have urged residents in Durban, Pinetown, Kloof, Hillcrest and the surrounding areas to factor the closures into their Sunday plans, particularly anyone travelling to early commitments. Access to some neighbourhoods will be limited for several hours, with traffic officers managing detours around the live route.
Once the field clears each zone, roads reopen in stages through Sunday evening, with full access restored after the final cut-off. Attention then shifts to the finish at Scottsville Racecourse, where the 99th Comrades winners and the day’s survivors will be celebrated in Pietermaritzburg.
