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thetab.comDirect answer: The latest updates point to the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run (Birmingham’s main half marathon) taking place in 2026 with planned road closures and event activities, and additional Birmingham-area half marathons scheduled later in the year. Details vary by event, so you’ll want to check the official event pages for the most current dates and travel advisories.
Overview of relevant 2026 Birmingham half marathon options
- Great Birmingham Run: The event calendar shows a half marathon component as part of the Great Birmingham Run weekend in Birmingham city center, typically around late spring; expect road closures and a festival-style finish area in 2026 similar to recent years.[1][5]
- Birmingham Running Festival / Sutton Coldfield options: Several charities and organizers offer half marathons in and around Birmingham (e.g., Sutton Park events in nearby Sutton Coldfield), with dates in mid to late 2026 depending on the organizer.[7][8]
- Other local races: There are additional local half marathons in broader Birmingham/West Midlands area (e.g., Black Country routes) that may occur in summer 2026.[2][3]
What to do next
- Confirm exact 2026 dates: Visit the official Birmingham Run/Great Birmingham Run pages and the Find a Race listings for the Birmingham Running Festival and other local events to confirm dates, start times, and course details.[3][1]
- Plan travel and road closures: For the Great Birmingham Run, road closures are common; plan around 04:30 start times and possible late closures until 17:00 to avoid city-center disruption.[5][6][1]
- Consider charity and fundraising options: Some Birmingham half marathons partner with charities; if you’re running for a cause, look at UK Sepsis Trust, MSF, Anaphylaxis UK, or UKST as potential charity entries.[8][9][7]
Illustration: typical race day plan
- 07:00 information point opens; 07:30 runners assemble; waves start 08:30–10:24 for the half marathon; finish at a festival-style finish village; city-center road closures begin early and may last through the afternoon.[1][5]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact 2026 dates and current travel advisories from official pages and assemble a concise, up-to-date itinerary for Birmingham’s half marathon weekend. Please confirm you’d like me to fetch those specifics.[3][5][1]