London Marathon Preview: Celebrity Runners to Watch

For the best viewing experience, please use the Chrome browser. The London Marathon, a staple of the sporting calendar since 1981, has raised over £1.4 billion for charity. As one of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors, it joins the ranks of Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Sydney. 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 follows the traditional path, with runners from separate color-coded starts (Red, Blue, Green) in Greenwich Park or Blackheath merging by Mile 3 near Charlton. The route then proceeds through Woolwich, the Thames, and the Cutty Sark, before heading towards Deptford, Surrey Quays, and Rotherhithe, passing the 20km mark around London Bridge. The course continues east towards Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, looping back towards Shadwell and Wapping, then passes Tower Hill and heads towards Blackfriars before running along the Embankment. Runners will have the London Eye to their left and Big Ben ahead as they pass Westminster towards St James' Park, finishing down The Mall. A detailed view of the course is available. A record number of participants is expected, following a world record 1.13 million ballot applications, with over 59,000 people expected at the start line. The 2025 race saw a record 56,640 finishers, which was the world record until the TCS New York City Marathon had 59,226 finishers last November. Several celebrities will participate, including four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, running for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust, and legendary jockey Sir Anthony McCoy, tackling his first 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 notable participants include Skins actor Jack O'Connell, House of the Dragon star James Norton, and McFly drummer Harry Judd. A full list of celebrity runners is available. Sporting icons Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne will serve as the official starters for the 2026 edition. Previous starters 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. Conditions are expected to be dry, with sunny intervals and light winds throughout the day. Temperatures will be around 10 degrees Celsius at the start, rising to 17 degrees by mid-afternoon. The men's course record was set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, while Tigst Assefa won the women's event in a record time last year. The TCS London Marathon app provides updates on runners at regular intervals, allowing spectators to track participants using their name or bib number. The next edition of the London Marathon will take place on Sunday, 25th April 2027, with the public ballot to enter scheduled to open shortly after this year's race.