HogmanHOWAY 5K Takes a New Route Along Northumberland Street

The HogmanHOWAY 5K is back on New Year's Eve with a new route that goes along Northumberland Street. The city's main shopping street has not hosted a race since the 1980s, about 40 years ago.

The race starts at 7.30pm on Thursday 31 December. Runners set off from the junction of St Mary's Place and College Street and finish on Ceremonial Way in front of the Civic Centre. In between, the route loops around the city centre, past Northumbria University and along Northumberland Street.

Twice as many places

The field has doubled to 3,000 runners this year. Around 1,000 people had already signed up when the new route was announced.

The last race on Northumberland Street was part of the Newcastle City Centre 5K. In 1984, in the build-up to the Los Angeles Olympics, it was won by Mike McLeod, with Steve Cram in sixth place. Cram went on to found HogmanHOWAY, which is organised by Events of the North with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and Newcastle City Council. The sponsor is Develop North PLC, and the race supports the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

The Mayor said: "It's going to be a fantastic night and a brilliant way to run into 2027."

Best for: HogmanHOWAY 5K: Thursday 31 December 2026, 7.30pm. Starts at St Mary's Place and College Street and finishes at the Civic Centre. Entries are on the Events of the North website.

Where to find out more

With a 7.30pm start, the race finishes well before midnight, so runners can still make other New Year's Eve plans. Places are limited to 3,000, so anyone thinking of entering should sign up soon.

The new route was announced by Newcastle City Council and reported by Get Into Newcastle.