Madison Marathon Closes Downtown Streets Sunday
Road and lane closures across Madison will affect race routes from early Sunday morning until the course reopens later that day.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Running
The City of Madison has announced road and lane closures for the Madison Marathon races on Sunday, with several Downtown streets closing for the event. Some Capitol-area streets will also close after the Dane County Farmers' Market ends Saturday afternoon.
Why it matters
Residents and visitors traveling through Downtown and the Capitol area should plan alternate routes for both the weekend market closures and the Sunday race. The closures will affect driving, parking and walking access across several neighborhoods in Madison.
The schedule sets the full and half marathon start at 7 a.m. Sunday and the 10K at 7:20 a.m., with the course expected to reopen by 1:30 p.m. The final reopening time depends on when the last runner crosses the finish line.
The players
City of Madison
Madison is the capital city of Wisconsin and the seat of Dane County, and its city government manages road closures and event logistics for public races.
Madison Marathon
The Madison Marathon is an annual running event offering full, half and 10K races that start and finish on Capitol Square.
Dane County Farmers' Market
The Dane County Farmers' Market is a long-running outdoor market held around the Capitol Square in Madison, known for local produce and goods.
The details
Several Downtown streets will close for the Madison Marathon races, and Park Street will close for runners crossing between 7 and 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The full marathon runs through Vilas Park, the UW Arboretum and around Lake Monona before returning to Capitol Square, where races start and finish.
Timeline
Saturday afternoon: Dane County Farmers' Market ends and some Capitol-area streets close.
Sunday, 7 a.m.: Full and half marathons start.
Sunday, 7:20 a.m.: The 10K starts.
Sunday, 1:30 p.m.: The last runner is expected to finish and the course reopens.
Sunday night: All roads reopen.
Season Trajectory
The Madison Marathon continues its established pattern of starting and finishing on Capitol Square and looping through Vilas Park, the UW Arboretum and around Lake Monona. The Sunday closures follow that same route structure used in prior editions of the race.
Drivers and pedestrians should avoid Downtown streets and Capitol-area roads during the race window on Sunday morning and early afternoon. Anyone heading to the Farmers' Market on Saturday should plan for closures starting after the market ends.
The takeaway
Planning ahead for the Saturday and Sunday closures will make getting around Downtown Madison much easier this weekend. Checking the route map before leaving home can help avoid delays near Capitol Square.
What happens next
The course is expected to reopen once the last runner finishes, with all roads reopening Sunday night.
Further reading
For more race coverage, explore the Running section for updates on local events and routes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wisconsin State Journal.
