Ironman Copenhagen and the Frederiksberg Criterium cycling race are closing roads across Copenhagen, Frederiksberg and North Zealand on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
DR reports that more than 3,000 athletes are on the start list for Ironman Copenhagen. The race takes over large parts of North Zealand, Amager and Copenhagen, and begins Sunday morning at Amager Strandpark.
After the swim, competitors cycle toward central Copenhagen and onward to North Zealand along Strandvejen. According to DR, the route passes Amager Strand, Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid and Amalienborg. Copenhagen Municipality expects around 200,000 spectators along the course.
Amager Strandvej is affected from early morning, and several roads in Indre By are also blocked. Traffic is being rerouted in many places while the race is underway. Both the police and the Danish Road Directorate advise drivers to plan alternative routes and avoid the affected areas.
BT adds that roads on Amager, in Indre By, on Østerbro and north of Copenhagen are wholly or partly closed, citing information from Copenhagen Police and the Road Directorate. Per BT, the race starts at 07:00 and affects traffic until roughly 18:00.
Ekstra Bladet reports that Strandvejen between Dyrehavevej and the northern end of Taarbæk Strandvej is expected to be fully closed to cars for much of the day, citing Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality.
Frederiksberg circuit closed for hours
The Frederiksberg Criterium runs multiple laps on a circuit that includes Gammel Kongevej, Frederiksberg Allé, Pile Allé, Roskildevej and Søndre Fasanvej. DR states that the route is closed off for several hours during Sunday.
Frederiksberg Municipality has published traffic information listing the closed streets, which also include Smallegade and Madvigs Allé. The municipality directs residents to the organizer’s website for the precise closure times for each street.
Gentofte Municipality issued a notice on August 10 that several major roads in the municipality are closed to car traffic as Ironman passes through. It advises motorists to use the motorway network where possible, and lists an Ironman traffic hotline for questions. Fredensborg Municipality states that roads there are wholly or partly closed between roughly 08:00 and 16:00.
The official Ironman Copenhagen traffic plan, distributed via Ritzau on August 3, sets out closures and one-way sections tied to the 180-kilometer bike course. It specifies opening and closing times for individual stretches, including Strandvejen south and north of Taarbæk.
Sunday’s events follow a Saturday in which the Copenhagen Pride parade also closed parts of the city. Roads around Rådhuspladsen were shut, and H. C. Andersens Boulevard was blocked as the parade crossed it.
