For optimal video playback, 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 charity. As one of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon majors, it stands alongside 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, and the men's elite race and mass event at 9:35 am. The 2026 route adheres to its traditional path, with runners starting at separate, color-coded points in Greenwich Park or Blackheath.
The course converges by Mile 3 near Charlton, proceeding through Woolwich, the Thames, and the Cutty Sark, before heading towards London Bridge. The route then proceeds east towards Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, looping back towards Shadwell and Wapping, and passing Tower Hill and the Embankment.
Runners will have the London Eye to their left and Big Ben ahead as they approach Westminster, St James' Park, and ultimately Buckingham Palace, finishing on The Mall. A record number of participants are anticipated, following a world record 1.13 million ballot applications, with over 59,000 people expected at the starting line. The 2025 event saw a record 56,640 finishers, which was surpassed by the TCS New York City Marathon's 59,226 finishers last November. Notable 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, alongside former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams, ex-England cricketer Sir Alastair Cook, and Laura Robson. The character Daddy Pig from Peppa Pig will participate in a specially designed costume, both in real life and on screen.
Other celebrities, including Skins actor Jack O'Connell, House of Guinness star James Norton, and McFly drummer Harry Judd, are also set to take part. Sporting icons Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne will be 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. Assefa leads the women's field after breaking the women-only record last year, although Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has withdrawn due to injury. The elite men's race is expected to be a close contest between Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo, with Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta and Kenya's Amos Kipruto also challenging for victory.
Conditions are expected to be dry, with sunny intervals and light winds, and temperatures ranging from 10 degrees Celsius at the start to 17 degrees by mid-afternoon. The men's course record was set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, while Assefa won in a record time last year.
Hug has won the men's wheelchair race five years running, 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, 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 followers to track participants by name or bib number.
The next edition of the London Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, April 25th, 2027, with the public ballot opening on Friday, April 24th, and closing on Friday, May 1st.