For the best viewing experience, please use the Chrome browser. The London Marathon, a staple in the sports calendar since its inception in 1981, has raised over £1.4 billion for charity. As one of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors, it stands alongside other notable races in 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 start at 9:35 am.
The 2026 route adheres to its traditional path, with runners beginning at separate color-coded starts in Greenwich Park or Blackheath. The routes merge by Mile 3 near Charlton, proceeding 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 then heads east towards Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, looping back towards Shadwell and Wapping, and passing Tower Hill before proceeding along the Embankment. Runners will have the London Eye to their left and Big Ben ahead as they approach Westminster and St James' Park, ultimately finishing at The Mall after passing Buckingham Palace. A detailed view of the course can be found here. A record number of participants are expected, following a world record 1.13 million ballot applications, with over 59,000 people anticipated 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 are set to participate, including four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, who is running for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust. Legendary jockey Sir Anthony McCoy will tackle his maiden marathon for the Matt Hampson Foundation.
Olympians Dame Laura Kenny and Sir Ben Ainslie are also scheduled to take part, alongside 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 and an upcoming episode of Peppa Pig. Other participants include Skins actor Jack O'Connell, House of Guinness star James Norton, and McFly drummer Harry Judd.
A full list of celebrities running the 2026 TCS London Marathon can be found here. 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 of the London Marathon 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 here. Assefa leads the women's field after breaking the women-only record on her way to winning last year, although Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn due to an Achilles injury. The elite men's race is likely to be a close contest between Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo, who set the half-marathon world record earlier this year, with Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta and Kenya's Amos Kipruto also likely to challenge for victory.
Hug will draw level with British Paralympian David Weir as the most successful athlete in London Marathon history if he wins the men's wheelchair race, while 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 race is 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 when he won the 2023 edition in 2:01:25, 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, and 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 among the busiest for crowds. The TCS London Marathon app provides updates on runners at regular intervals throughout, allowing you to follow a participant using either their name or bib number.
The next edition of the London Marathon will take place on Sunday, 25th April 2027. The public ballot to enter the 2027 edition is scheduled to open from 9 am on Friday, 24th April, until 4 pm on Friday, 1st May.