London Marathon 2026: Celebrity Lineup and Event Preview

For the best viewing experience, please use the Chrome browser. The London Marathon, a staple in the sporting calendar since its inception in 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. The men's elite race and mass event will begin at 9:35 am. The 2026 route adheres to its traditional path, with runners starting at separate color-coded points (Red, Blue, Green) in either Greenwich Park or Blackheath. The routes converge by Mile 3 near Charlton, forming a single path that traverses through Woolwich, the Thames, and the Cutty Sark, before proceeding through Deptford, Surrey Quays, and Rotherhithe, passing the 20km mark near London Bridge. The course then heads east towards Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, looping back towards Shadwell and Wapping, before passing Tower Hill and heading towards Blackfriars, and finally running along the Embankment. Runners will have the London Eye to their left and Big Ben ahead as they approach Westminster and St James' Park, passing Buckingham Palace before finishing at 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 anticipated at the starting line. The 2025 event saw a record 56,640 finishers, which held the world record until the TCS New York City Marathon surpassed it with 59,226 finishers last November. Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel will participate to raise funds for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust. Legendary jockey Sir Anthony (AP) McCoy will tackle 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. The cartoon character Daddy Pig will participate in real life and on screen, with a runner wearing a specially designed costume, as well as an upcoming episode of Peppa Pig. Skins actor Jack O'Connell, House of the Dragon star James Norton, and McFly drummer Harry Judd are also set to participate. A full list of celebrity participants is available. Sporting icons Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne will be the official starters for the 2026 edition, with Farah returning to the TCS London Marathon for the first time since retiring from athletics in 2024. Previous starters include Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Andy Murray, Lionesses Leah Williamson OBE, Jill Scott MBE, and Ellen White MBE, Sir Steve Redgrave, 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 Achilles 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. Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta and Kenya's Amos Kipruto are also likely to challenge for victory. Hug will equal British Paralympian David Weir's record as the most successful athlete in London Marathon history if he wins the men's wheelchair race. Debrunner returns in the women's wheelchair race after missing the world record on the London course by just two seconds last year. Sunday's conditions are expected to be dry, with sunny intervals and light winds throughout the day. Temperatures will be around 10 degrees Celsius (50F) at the start, rising to 17 degrees (63F) by mid-afternoon. The late Kelvin Kiptum set the men's course record with a time of 2:01:25 in the 2023 edition, while Assefa won in a record time of 2:15:50 last year. Hug has won the men's wheelchair races five years running, setting the course record during his 2023 win. Debrunner has won the women's wheelchair event three times in the last four years. Hundreds of thousands of spectators will line the streets of London, with the sections around the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf being the busiest. The TCS London Marathon app provides updates on runners at regular intervals, allowing participants to be tracked using their name or bib number. The next edition of the London Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 25th, 2027. The public ballot for the 2027 edition will open from 9 am on Friday, April 24th, until 4 pm on Friday, May 1st.