The 2026 iteration of the Queen City Marathon is taking place this weekend, which will see thousands of runners and walkers take to the streets of Regina for a variety of distances. Here’s what you need to know if you’re heading to the event. Friday The events kick off on Friday with race package pickup from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the Wellness Expo & Runners Market from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., both inside the Conexus Arts Centre. The first run of the weekend is the Night Owl 5K, which sees participants don glow in the dark gear as they make their way through the course. The race will begin at 8 p.m. and will start and end at the Conexus Arts Centre at 200A Lakeshore Drive. Organizers encourage both participants and spectators to bring flashlights, wear headlamps and wear or carry glowsticks. The night owl run is a non-competitive event, with no awards presented. However, everyone must have their race numbers and timing bibs to be able to participate. Saturday The mini marathon will take place on Saturday, with different age categories starting at different times to complete different distances. At 9:30 a.m., children from two to three-years old will run 400 metres. At 9:45 a.m., those from three to four-years old will run one kilometre. Those aged five to seven will run two kilometres beginning at 10:15 a.m. At 10:45 a.m., children from eight to 10-years-old will run three kilometres. To finish off the mini marathon, 11 to 14-year-olds will run three kilometres beginning at 11:30 a.m. Organizers note the start times are all approximate. Each age category will run separately, with the next race not starting until after the previous one is done. All mini marathon races will also start and end at the Conexus Arts Centre. Participants can either run on their own or with one parent or guardian, who does not need to register. Wheeled devices, including strollers, bikes, skateboards, with the exception of required mobility devices, are not permitted during the mini marathon. The Campbell and Haliburton Insurance Family 5K will start around 12:30 p.m. and will also start and end at the Conexus Arts Centre. The course, which is mostly on asphalt pathways, will take participants on a scenic tour of Wascana Lake, according to organizers. The all-ages event allows pushed strollers and baby joggers, but both adults and children must be registered participants. Other wheeled devices, including bikes, skateboards, scooters, roller skates, roller blades and wheeled running shoes are not permitted. Those taking part in the family 5K will be timed and will receive race results. However, it is a non-competitive event, and no awards will be presented. Sunday The full marathon run and walk, the half-marathon run and walk, the marathon team relay, and the 10K are all taking place on Sunday. The 42.2K run starts at 7:30 a.m., with the course open for six hours until 1:30 p.m. The course also starts and finishes at the Conexus Arts Centre, with the course taking runners through many areas of Wascana Centre, downtown, and some of the city’s older neighbourhoods, on a combination of asphalt roadways and pathways. The 42.2K walk starts at 7 a.m., with the course open for seven hours until 2 p.m. The walk will feature the same course as the full marathon run. The walk is a non-competitive event, with only finisher medals rewarded. Early refreshment stations may not be set up before 7:30 a.m., organizers note. Both the marathon run and walk are an Athletics Canada certified course and can be used as a Boston Marathon qualifier. Participants for both must be at least 16 years old on race day. The 21.1K run and walk both start at 8 a.m., with the course open for four hours until 12 p.m. The half marathon course will also take participants through many areas of Wascana Centre, downtown, and some of the city’s older neighbourhoods, taking place on asphalt roadways. Participants for both the half marathon run and walk must be at least 14 years old on race day. Organizers note participants should only enter the walk events if they intend to walk 100 per cent of the course. The 10K race starts at 8:30 a.m. and will also take runners through Wascana Centre and downtown on asphalt roadways. The race will start and finish at the Conexus Arts Centre, with both runners and walkers encouraged. Participants must be at least 10 on race day. Finally, the 42.2K team relay event begins at 8 a.m. on Sunday with the course open for six hours until 2 p.m. The event is divided into five separate sections / legs, with teams made up of three to five members. The five relay legs start and end at four separate relay exchange zones, where one team member’s section ends and the next member’s section begins. Teams can assign the relay sections however they like. The race will start and end at the Conexus Arts Centre with exchange locations subject to change. Race participants must be at least 14-years old. Road closures, parking Road closures will be in effect for the entire weekend. Access to the Conexus Arts Centre will only be from the south side entrance road at 23rd Avenue and Wascana Parkway, entering onto Lakeshore Drive. Lakeshore Drive in front of the Conexus Arts Centre will be closed all day on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, Broad Street to Avenue C will also be closed. On Sunday, Lakeshore Drive, Legislative Drive and Memorial Drive will be closed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Wascana Drive closed from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Albert Street from 22nd Avenue to Victoria Avenue will be reduced (with vehicles and participants sharing the roadway) on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Albert Street from 22nd Avenue to 20th Avenue will be reduced from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. McCallum Avenue from Albert Street to Kings Road and Kings Road from Lakeview Avenue to Pasqua Street will both be restricted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several other road closures and restrictions will be in place and can be found here. Volunteers will be on course to direct traffic and racegoers to follow the course. Limited parking is available in the east and south lots of the Conexus Arts Centre. Organizers suggest those arriving on Sunday to be on site no later than 6:30 a.m. to give enough time to find alternate parking if the lots are already full. Spectators are encouraged to stand beside the edge of the course to cheer the participants on and are not permitted to run or walk within the boundaries of the course. Friends and family are also not allowed in the area right behind the finish line. Full event information can be found on the QCM website.
