Buenos Aires Marathon 2026: The Route, the Road Closures and What to Know in Argentina on 20 September
ARGENTINA · SPORT
Key Facts
- —What happened The marathon runs through central Buenos Aires on Sunday 20 September 2026, starting at 07:00.
- —How big Nearly 17,000 runners have entered, and more than 5,000 foreign runners are expected.
- —What it means Palermo, Retiro, Puerto Madero and La Boca lose road space for much of the morning.
- —The catch Closures roll with the runners, so many streets shut only briefly but at unpredictable times.
- —Who it affects Runners, spectators, anyone driving on Sunday morning and anyone flying out of Aeroparque.
- —What comes next The city had not published its 2026 street closure notice as of 13 September.
The Buenos Aires Marathon runs on Sunday 20 September 2026, starting at 07:00 in Palermo. Closures follow the runners through Retiro, Puerto Madero and La Boca for much of the morning.
The Buenos Aires Marathon returns to Argentina’s capital on Sunday 20 September 2026. Nearly 17,000 runners have entered, and streets shut as they pass from 07:00.
What happens on Sunday morning
The race covers the full 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles). It starts and finishes at the corner of Avenida Figueroa Alcorta and Dorrego, in Palermo.
El Monterizo reported nearly 17,000 entries on 9 September, and called this the biggest field in the race’s history. Organisers expect the number to grow.
The event has run since 1984 and carries a World Athletics label. That body governs track and road running worldwide.
Starting corrals open at 05:30 and close at 06:45. Runners are sorted into waves by the finishing time they expect.
Organisers also expect more than 5,000 foreign runners. They come from more than 45 countries.
What foreign runners should sort out first
There is no bib pickup on race morning. You collect your kit at the expo in Parque Sarmiento, with the entrance on Avenida Triunvirato.
The official site lists the expo for Friday 18 September from 11:00 to 20:00. Saturday 19 September runs from 09:00 to 16:00.
Bring photo identification, your QR code and your bib number. Someone else may collect the kit for you if they follow the organisers’ rules.
The course is flat and certified, and the city calls it the fastest marathon in Latin America. That matters if you are chasing a qualifying time.
September is early spring in Argentina, so a 07:00 start is usually cool rather than cold. Forecasts a week out still move, so pack for both.
The route and the streets it takes over
The course links Palermo, Retiro, Puerto Madero and La Boca. It passes the Obelisco, the Teatro Colón and the Casa Rosada.
That covers most of the places visitors want to be on a Sunday. Plaza de Mayo, the Microcentro and the Costanera all sit beside the route.
Organisers say the operational detail of the circuit can still change before the event. A course map is published on the race website.
The zone around Figueroa Alcorta and Dorrego is the busiest point. It holds the start, the finish and the bag drop on one stretch of road.
When the closures start and how long they last
As of 13 September the city government had not published its street closure notice for the Buenos Aires Marathon. Treat the timings below as a guide, not a schedule.
The closures roll with the runners. A street opens again once the last runner has gone through, so it may be shut for minutes or for hours.
The city’s plan for the same race in 2025 shows the shape of it. The north side of Figueroa Alcorta shut from 16:00 on the Saturday until 18:30 on the Sunday.
That 2025 plan listed rolling closures along the whole course from 07:00 to 13:00. The 2019 notice shut ramps on the Illia, 25 de Mayo and 9 de Julio Sur from 06:00 to 13:00.
August’s half marathon here ran its closures from 05:00 to 12:00, the day an Ethiopian rewrote the world record. Infobae described those closures as total, momentary and successive.
Getting to the airports that morning
Aeroparque sits beside the Costanera, minutes from the start line. Its airport code is AEP, and it handles most domestic flights.
Roads around Palermo and the Costanera are the most likely to be shut. If you fly out of Aeroparque before lunchtime, leave much earlier than usual.
Ezeiza, code EZE, is the international airport about 35 kilometres (22 miles) south-west of the centre. The road out to it runs away from the course, so it is the safer bet.
The risk with Ezeiza is the first few kilometres, not the motorway. Getting out of the centre and onto the Ricchieri may be slow while ramps are closed.
Aeroparque already had one difficult weekend this year, when flights moved to Ezeiza for 55 hours. A road race is much smaller, but the lesson about buffer time holds.
Buses, the Subte and taxis
Bus routes that cross the course have to be diverted. No operator has published a list for this year, so check the signs at your stop.
The Subte, the city’s underground network, runs on Sundays but starts later than on weekdays. It is the one way across the centre that street closures cannot block.
Several lines reach Plaza de Mayo, the Obelisco and Retiro. All three sit on or very close to the course.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps will cost more and take longer than usual. A driver cannot cross a closed street, so a short trip can become a long loop.
In 2019 the city kept the Metrobus lanes on Avenida Leandro Alem open. The 2025 course ran along Paseo del Bajo instead, so check the published map.
What is still unconfirmed
Three things matter most, and none are settled. Exact closure times, bus diversions and the official cut-off are all still open.
Race listings show a six-hour limit. The organisers do not publish one on their own site, so confirm it at the expo before you start.
The city usually posts its traffic notice a few days before a big race. Watch buenosaires.gob.ar and the race website during the final week.
Entry for foreign runners was listed at US$120 on the official site. Places may already be gone, so check that before you book anything.
More: Argentina news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the Buenos Aires Marathon 2026 start?
The race starts at 07:00 on Sunday 20 September 2026. Starting corrals open at 05:30 and close at 06:45.
Which streets close for the marathon in Buenos Aires?
The course runs through Palermo, Retiro, Puerto Madero and La Boca, passing the Obelisco and the Casa Rosada. The city had not published its 2026 closure list as of 13 September.
Does the Subte run during the marathon?
The Subte runs on Sundays, although it starts later than on weekdays. No service changes have been announced for race day.
How do I get to Ezeiza airport on race day?
Ezeiza sits away from the course, so the motorway itself should be clear. Allow extra time to leave the centre while motorway ramps are closed.
Sources: Maraton de Buenos Aires, Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, El Monterizo, Infobae, Calendario de Carreras; see https://www.maratondebuenosaires.com/ and https://linda.buenosaires.gob.ar/eventos/42k-de-buenos-aires and https://elmonterizo.com/la-maraton-de-buenos-aires-vuelve-con-un-record-de-inscriptos-el-dato-que-sorprende and https://deportv.gob.ar/polideportivo/corren-maraton-aires-record-inscriptos-circuito-cortes-transito-nid:7246 and https://buenosaires.gob.ar/gcaba_historico/noticias/maraton-de-buenos-aires-42k-te-contamos-cuales-son-las-afectaciones-al
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