The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon, scheduled for March, is poised to become the most significant edition since its inception in 1994, with organisers announcing a major expansion in capacity and a revamped course. Just five weeks ago, BTR Liverpool revealed that the event had sold out at a record-breaking 12,000 entries, including 500 places for the accompanying BTR 10 Mile Road Race. However, exciting changes unveiled today, Monday, January 26, allow for an increase in participation numbers, marking a historic moment for the North West running community.
Increased Capacity and New Start Line
An additional 3,000 places are now available, elevating the overall event capacity to an impressive 15,000 runners. This expansion comes alongside the introduction of a new route and a revised start time for race morning on Sunday, March 15. The updated course and larger capacity offer a fantastic opportunity for runners who previously missed out on securing a place, following a trend of soaring entry numbers and sell-out events for BTR over the past two years.
A key change involves the race start line, which will relocate for 2026 to the waterfront Hill Dickinson Stadium, the new home ground of Everton Football Club. This shift is due to approved building works on Canada Boulevard at Pier Head Liverpool, set to commence in February, which would have impacted the traditional start. BTR Liverpool has collaborated closely with Liverpool City Council to develop this alternative plan, resulting in the increased runner capacity.
Revised Course and Landmark Highlights
The race will now commence at a slightly later time of 9.30am, providing runners with extra time to reach the start line and easing transport logistics. The finish line will remain at Pier Head Liverpool, offering the iconic backdrop of the Three Graces and the world-famous Liver Birds. The early miles of the route have been redesigned to incorporate more of the city centre and its landmarks, including Liverpool Town Hall.
Notably, the route now features the striking Chinese Arch on Nelson Street, celebrating Liverpool's status as home to Europe's oldest Chinese community and the largest Chinese Arch outside mainland China. Runners will also pass Liverpool Cathedral, the largest Anglican cathedral in Britain and the fifth largest globally. In the latter part of the race, the course has been adjusted; instead of heading through Otterspool Park and onto The Promenade, participants will return from Sefton Park and Princes Park along Princes Road and Upper Parliament Street, taking in Queens Wharf and Halftide Wharf before joining the usual route at King's Dock for the final stretch along the waterfront to the grandstand finish.
Waiting List and Entry Transfers
When the event sold out in early December, a waiting list was established, attracting over 3,000 registrations. Recently, BTR Liverpool introduced a new entry system allowing transfers for the first time, enabling runners unable to participate to transfer their entries and free up places. Hundreds on the waiting list have already converted their registrations into event places. The extra 3,000 places will first be offered to those on the waiting list, who will receive direct communication with exclusive access time-slots for registration. Any remaining places will subsequently go on general sale.
Event Legacy and Economic Impact
First staged in 1994, the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon is one of the longest-established premier road races in the region, a highlight in the North West running calendar that attracts participants from across the country and internationally, combining the race with a chance to experience Liverpool. In 2025, BTR Liverpool and its portfolio of events were acquired by Run For All, a mass participation events company wholly owned by the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, which continues to honour her legacy.
Alan Rothwell, BTR Race Director, commented: "The BTR Liverpool Half Marathon is about to race to another level altogether by becoming the biggest ever since it was first staged in 1994. We were thrilled when the event sold out last year at 12,000 entries, and this time we've reached that number again in record time. Now, we can announce exciting changes to the course, allowing us to make an extra 3,000 places available. Runners will notice the changes from the get-go, crossing the new start line at Everton Football Club's Hill Dickinson Stadium at a new time. The revised course will take them past more iconic city centre landmarks. Increasing the overall event capacity to 15,000 is incredible and part of Run For All's vision to future-proof BTR Liverpool events. A big thank you to the Merseyside running community for their support."
The 2025 BTR Liverpool Half Marathon was the largest ever, selling out two months before race day with 12,000 places, a significant jump from 9,000 entries in 2024. The event significantly boosts the local economy through hospitality and tourism sectors over race weekend, benefiting bars, restaurants, hotels, retail, and attractions. BTR Liverpool is the leading organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across the Liverpool City Region, with an annual calendar from March to December that includes the Liverpool Santa Dash, Mersey Tunnel 10k, Run For The 97, Women's 10k, Port Sunlight Road Race 10k, and Wirral 10k.
