Malta Marathon: motorists advised to plan ahead as 7,000 athletes take to the roads
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Malta is preparing for a major sporting weekend as the 41st LifeStar Malta Marathon opens the 2026 Running Europe Tour this Sunday.
This year’s edition has drawn a record 7,000 participants, nearly 2,000 more than last year, from 85 countries. Local representation remains strong, with around 2,200 Maltese runners and 800 foreign residents taking part. The United Kingdom, Poland and Italy account for the largest share of overseas entrants, with a combined total of about 4,000 runners.
Organisers expect a high level of competition among the elite field, with several prominent international marathon and half-marathon athletes set to line up in both men’s and women’s categories.
The event is also expected to have a major effect on local transport. Malta Public Transport has announced that a number of routes will face temporary cancellations, diversions, or delays, particularly in the Rabat–Ta’ Qali area. Transport Malta has also advised on its social media pages that a number of roads along the route, which takes athletes from Mdina to Sliema Ferries, will be closed to traffic.
Drivers and commuters are advised to plan journeys ahead of time and allow for delays.
