The City of Kenosha will welcome thousands of runners to downtown for the Wisconsin Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Races will begin near the Kenosha Civil War Museum, 5400 First Ave., at the corner of Ring Road and Fisherman Drive. An early start at 6:35 a.m. is scheduled for marathon participants anticipating a finish time of six hours or longer, a change from previous years. The main start time for all events — marathon, half marathon and 5K — is 7 a.m. The event will follow the same marathon and half marathon courses as 2025, with an updated route for the 5K. The marathon route is a double loop and the half marathon course is a single loop. All courses showcase Kenosha’s Lake Michigan shoreline, guiding runners through downtown and past local parks and beaches.  Pacers will be available to assist runners in achieving their goal times. Marathon pacing groups will be offered in 30-minute increments from 3 hours, 30 minutes to 6 hours. Due to the two-loop marathon course, pacers will also help guide half marathon participants. Participants must be able to complete the marathon distance within 6.5 hours of the official 7 a.m. start time. Streets will reopen on a rolling basis based on this schedule (approximately a 15-minute-per-mile pace), and runners may be directed to sidewalks in some areas. An official “last finisher” will follow the course and is expected to finish by 1:30 p.m., or earlier if no participants remain on the course. Gear check will be available in the park near the start and finish lines. Runners are advised not to check valuables or oversized items.  There will be no in-person registration for this year’s event. Participants may register online through race morning, pending availability. Road Closures Parking will not be available in the museum lots on race day. Free parking is available in the downtown parking structure on Eighth Avenue between 56th and 57th streets. Roads along the marathon route will be closed, and temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted.  Vehicles must be removed from these areas by 3 a.m. Saturday or will be subject to towing. Motorists are urged to use caution and be mindful of runners and spectators. Downtown area: The race begins at 7 a.m. Residents heading west out of the downtown area should avoid 56th Street, which will be closed until approximately 10:30 a.m. Other east-west streets will be available for use when it is safe to cross. The marathon course is a double loop, so runners will be on portions of Sixth and Seventh avenues south of 56th Street from roughly 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with varying numbers of runners throughout the morning. Traffic delays should be shorter during the second loop, and road sections will reopen after the last runner has passed and police deem it safe to reopen. Sixth and Seventh avenues north of 54th Street will be closed for the entirety of the morning up to 50th Street. The last runner is expected to clear these streets by 1:30 p.m. South of 56th Street, north of 79th Street: Sixth and Seventh avenues south of 56th Street will be closed for the race beginning at 7 a.m., but traffic will be allowed to cross Seventh Avenue in an east or west direction when it is safe to do so. Traffic attempting to cross Seventh Avenue will be directed to 59th or 75th streets. Runners will occupy Seventh Avenue until roughly 8 a.m. for the first wave and until 12:30 p.m. during the second wave. Because 61st Street will be used for the 5K turnoff, traffic may be delayed at 61st Street and Fifth Avenue from about 7:05 to 7:30 a.m.  Kennedy Drive will be closed from Simmons Island to the bike path. Following the race, participants will receive a food bag at the finish line. Runners may also redeem brat and beer tickets at Kenosha Tap House, 125 56th St., located near the finish line. New for 2026, all 5K participants will receive a finisher’s medal. Showers will be available at the Kenosha YMCA, 7101 53rd St. Participants must present identification, their race bib and their own towel. Shower facilities are located in a team area and are not private. The event is presented by YASH Technologies. For more information and to register, visit the Wisconsin Marathon website.