image of The University of Manchester
Photo credit: The University of Manchester

Ahead of its largest ever edition on Sunday 27th April 2025, the adidas Manchester Marathon can confirm an exciting new finish line close to the city centre. The news was announced on social media, with dramatic video taken by helicopter revealing the major change.

Utilising the stunning grandeur of The University of Manchester as a backdrop, 36,000 people will now reach the climax of their challenge on the striking Oxford Road. The University of Manchester is renowned for being a hub of innovation and progress, making it a perfect fit for the constantly evolving event, and treating participants and spectators to spectacular surroundings such as the Whitworth Building and the Old Quadrangle.

Popular course locations that have helped propel Manchester to the fourth largest marathon in Europe will remain. These include the iconic start close to Manchester United FC in Trafford, and supporter laden sections through Sale, Altrincham and many more in Greater Manchester. Planning around the new finish has taken over two years, with the key objective of improving the experience for finishers, especially expanded transport links and recovery options. Participants will be able to celebrate in style with family and friends as bars, shops, and restaurants are plentiful.

2025 will be the highest profile edition yet taking place at the same time as the London Marathon, ensuring that this will be the largest day of marathon running in UK history. The increased capacity for the adidas Manchester Marathon will further boost the economic impact of the event which already contributes over £29 million annually to the local economy.

Places to participate in the event have been gradually released since April, with most recent allocations going in just a few hours. The final 10% of places for 2025 are being released today (Wednesday 16th October) and are expected to be just as popular.

Andrew Smith, adidas Manchester Marathon CEO said:

“We’ve been planning this one for a long time, so it’s a great pleasure to confirm the addition of a truly elite level finish to our event. We’ve listened to the feedback from our participants and local community, as they are at the heart of everything we do. This switch combines what already makes the adidas Manchester Marathon special, with the same epic start under Trafford Arch but with significant improvements to the post-finish experience for our heroes and their supporters.

“Taking place at the same time as London, we know the eyes of the world will be on us, so cannot wait to further showcase everything Greater Manchester and the iconic city centre has to offer. Best of luck to everyone starting out on their marathon journey and see you in April!”