July 4th Run ATLANTA 2026

Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race features two 10-kilometer road races on Peachtree Street: the large Independence Day run south toward Piedmont Park, and a January “Polar Opposite” version run north on the same route. The July race began with 110 runners and grew into the world’s largest 10K, with over 70,000 participants vying for 60,000 spots. It remains a competitive event at the front, attracting elite 10K runners and occasionally serving as the U.S. men’s and women’s 10K championship. The southbound course starts at Lenox Square and finishes at Piedmont Park; the northbound race reverses it, beginning at 10th Street near the park and returning to Lenox Square. Wheelchair athletes compete in the Shepherd Center division before the main field, and a division exists for soldiers stationed in the Middle East. Children have their own Peachtree Junior events in Piedmont Park, including a one-mile run and a 50-meter dash. An early race tradition originated unexpectedly: organizers misjudged the demand for finisher T-shirts, ran out, and helped establish the shirt as one of the race’s most sought-after souvenirs.