London Marathon Preview: Celebrity Participants and Course Details

For an enhanced video experience, please use the Chrome browser. The London Marathon, a staple of the sporting calendar since its inception in 1981, has raised over £1.4 billion for charitable causes during its history. As one of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors, it joins the ranks of Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Sydney in hosting elite races over the 26.2-mile distance. Traditionally held in April, the event was rescheduled to October from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's wheelchair race commences at 8:50 am on Sunday, followed by the women's elite race at 9:05 am, and the men's elite and mass events at 9:35 am. The 2026 route adheres to its traditional path, with runners starting at either Greenwich Park or Blackheath, divided into color-coded groups, and merging into a single route near Charlton by Mile 3. The course then proceeds through Woolwich, the Thames, and the Cutty Sark, before passing through Deptford, Surrey Quays, and Rotherhithe, reaching the 20km mark around London Bridge. Runners then head east towards Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, loop back towards Shadwell and Wapping, and pass Tower Hill before proceeding along the Embankment, with the London Eye and Big Ben in sight as they approach Westminster and St James' Park, ultimately finishing down The Mall. A record number of participants is expected, following a world record 1.13 million ballot applications, with over 59,000 people anticipated at the starting line. The 2025 event saw a record 56,640 finishers, which was the world record until the TCS New York City Marathon surpassed it with 59,226 finishers last November. Notable celebrity participants include four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, running for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust, and legendary jockey Sir Anthony McCoy, tackling his maiden marathon for the Matt Hampson Foundation. Olympians Dame Laura Kenny and Sir Ben Ainslie are also scheduled to participate, along with former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams, ex-England cricketer Sir Alastair Cook, and Laura Robson. Other participants include actor Jack O'Connell, House of the Dragon star James Norton, and McFly drummer Harry Judd, with a comprehensive list of celebrity runners available. Sporting icons Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne will serve as the official starters for the 2026 edition, with Farah returning to the TCS London Marathon for the first time since his retirement from athletics in 2024. Previous starters of the London Marathon include Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Andy Murray, and Dame Kelly Holmes. The elite races feature all four defending champions, with the official elite start list available. Assefa leads the women's field after breaking the women-only record last year, although Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn due to an injury. The elite men's race is expected to be a close contest between Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo, who set the half-marathon world record earlier this year. Hug aims to equal British Paralympian David Weir's record as the most successful athlete in London Marathon history with a win in the men's wheelchair race. Conditions for the race are expected to be dry, with sunny intervals and light winds, and temperatures ranging from 10 degrees Celsius at the start to 17 degrees Celsius by mid-afternoon. The men's course record was set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, while Assefa won the women's race in a record time last year. Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the streets of London, with the busiest sections expected to be around the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf. The TCS London Marathon app will provide updates on runners throughout the event, allowing spectators to track participants using their name or bib number. The next edition of the London Marathon is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 25th April 2027, with the public ballot for the 2027 edition set to open shortly after this year's event.