By Staff
June 29th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The start point and the finishing point of the 2026 Around the Bay will be different.
When the gun goes off on April 12, runners will start on Guise Street West (take James Street as far north as you can and it’s the last street you hit before going into the water) and they’ll cross the finish line on Discovery Drive, near HMCS Haida.
The exact spots have yet to be determined, but they’ll be locked down by September.
Why the change?
If the race was going to be run on its traditional weekend, it would’ve been scheduled for March 29. However, that’s Juno Award weekend here in Hamilton, which not only draws a ton of resources, closes roads and fills hotels, but also eliminates the newly renamed TD Coliseum as a venue. For this year, anyway.
The week before would put it on the final Sunday of March break. Lewis says they’ve tried that before and it has a huge effect on registrations.
The week after is Easter, which is obviously a problem. That leaves April 12. Liuna is booked that day
The route will be generally similar to the one this year. The Discovery Centre, the Waterfront Banquet and Conference Centre and the Leander Boat Club will provide facilities. And with a slightly later date, the temperatures might even be a little more favourable.
