Bay to Breakers 2026: San Francisco road closures, race route and everything else to know
The 114th Bay to Breakers race is taking over San Francisco on Sunday, May 17, 2026 . Race officials have confirmed that more than 30,000 registered participants have signed up to run, jog, and costume-walk their way across the city, tracking to be the most massive gathering the City by the Bay has seen in over a decade.
Whether you are a costumed runner, a dedicated spectator, or a resident trying to cross town, navigating the city requires careful planning as the race essentially cuts San Francisco in half.
Here is the ultimate breakdown of everything you need to know:
Start Time: 8 a.m.
The race starts downtown near the Embarcadero waterfront, completely taking over the Financial District early Sunday morning.
The starting line is at the intersection of Howard Street and Main/Fremont streets.
Once you survive the 12K, the massive end-of-race party kicks off. Expect live music stages, local food trucks, and a giant beer garden. Registered participants can show their official race bib for a complimentary drink.
BART will run four special early-morning trains with limited stops to get runners downtown.
These limited trains will arrive at Embarcadero Station around 7 a.m.
You can only catch these special early trains at 16th St. Mission, Bay Fair, Daly City, El Cerrito del Norte, Dublin/Pleasanton, MacArthur, Millbrae, Pleasant Hill, and West Oakland.
Visit the BART website here for more information.
Muni routes will be heavily impacted across the city. Visit the SFMTA website here for more details.
Crews will begin locking down the Financial District starting Saturday evening to build out the starting line corrals and security checkpoints
By early Sunday morning, the entire lower end of Market and Howard streets will transform into a pedestrian-only zone for registered runners.
As the race moves west, Hayes Street Hill and the roads flanking the Panhandle will shut down to accommodate the peak crowds, costumed revelers, and centipede runners
The final bottleneck occurs at the Western edge of the city where the race concludes at the Great Highway with the Finish Line Festival.
