Ironman Jacksonville 2026: Course, road closures and race day forecast
Ironman Jacksonville 2026 on Saturday, May 16, is expected to host between 1,500 to 1,900 athletes. It will also close dozens of roads.
The first-ever Ironman Jacksonville is taking over the city Saturday, May 16, bringing thousands of athletes and spectators to Northeast Florida, causing major road impacts and closures across the city. Between 1,500 and 1,900 participants from 31 countries and 49 states are expected to compete in one of the most demanding endurance races in the world. The event will bring a full-on athlete takeover to Jacksonville, with competitors racing across the city for up to 17 hours.
The course begins with a 2. 4-mile swim in the St. Johns River at 7:30 a.
m. from Metropolitan Park, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26. 2-mile run through downtown Jacksonville and Riverside.
For many competitors, this race marks a major milestone. According to an April 6, Facebook poll shared by the Ironman Jacksonville Facebook group , 53% of respondents said this will be their first-ever full-distance Ironman after previously completing a half-distance race. As athletes prepare to take on one of the biggest physical and mental challenges of their lives, spectators can also get ready for a day unlike any other.
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