2026 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Gets Underway

The 11th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon officially kicked off on Saturday, with thousands of athletes taking to the streets for the 42km and 10km races.

Footage shared by sports photographer Sulaimon Adebayo, widely known as Pooja, captured the runners in motion as the competition commenced early in the morning. The annual event is organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited in partnership with Access Bank and the Lagos State Government.

According to details released by the bank, the full marathon flagged off at 6:30 am from the Orca Shopping Mall on Ahmadu Bello Way in Eko Atlantic City, concluding at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island. The 10km race, which started later at 9:30 am, began at the Grace Garden Event Centre in Lekki and finished at the same location in Eko Atlantic.

Prize Money Breakdown

Organisers have maintained significant prize incentives for both international and local athletes.

In the elite men’s and women’s categories, the winner will take home $50,000. The runner-up will receive $20,000, with amounts decreasing down to $4,000 for eighth place.

For Nigerian elite athletes, cash prizes range from N2 million for the first position, down to N50,000 for competitors finishing in seventh to tenth place. In the 10km Nigerian category, the winner is set to receive N500,000.

Seeking Platinum Status

Currently holding a World Athletics Gold Label, the Lagos City Marathon is positioning itself for an upgrade to Platinum Label status the highest global classification. There are currently only 16 such races worldwide, with none based in Africa. Organisers hope that the 2026 edition will attract top-tier international talent as they push to consolidate the race’s reputation as a leading road event on the continent.

Traffic Advisory

Ahead of the race, the Lagos State Government announced traffic diversions to ensure the smooth running of the event. The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, confirmed that the restrictions were necessary for the safety and success of the marathon.

“The First, 42-kilometre race, will commence at Ahmadu Bello (By MRS Gas Station) route and run through the entire stretch of the Coastal Road, which is the end point of the race,” Osiyemi explained.

He added that the 10km race would cover Durosimi Etti in Lekki Phase 1, proceeding through Ozumba Mbadiwe to Bishop Oluwole, Akin Adesola, and Sanusi Fafunwa.

Authorities stated that all adjoining roads, junctions, and intersections along both routes would be blocked from 12:00 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other security agencies were deployed to manage the closures and prevent access to the main race corridor. Motorists were urged to exercise patience as part of the traffic management plan.

The race has received backing from the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and World Athletics as organisers continue to pursue the Platinum Label upgrade.