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 begin at 9:35 am. The 2026 route adheres to the traditional course, with runners starting at separate color-coded points in either Greenwich Park or Blackheath.
The paths merge by Mile 3 near Charlton, forming a single route that traverses through Woolwich, the Thames, and the Cutty Sark, before proceeding through Deptford, Surrey Quays, and Rotherhithe, passing the 20km mark around London Bridge. The route then heads east toward Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, loops back toward Shadwell and Wapping, and passes Tower Hill before heading toward Blackfriars and running along the Embankment. Runners will have the London Eye to their left and Big Ben ahead as they pass Westminster toward St James' Park, finally concluding at Buckingham Palace and The Mall. A detailed view of the course is available.
A record number of participants are expected, following a world record 1.13 million ballot applications, with over 59,000 people anticipated at the starting 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.
Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel is running for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust. Legendary jockey Sir Anthony McCoy is 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. Daddy Pig from the children's TV show Peppa Pig will participate in a specially designed costume, and an upcoming episode will feature the character running the marathon.
Other celebrities participating 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 is available. Sporting icons Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne will be the official starters for the 2026 edition. Farah returns to the TCS London Marathon for the first time since retiring from athletics in 2024.
Kildunne will be alongside him, having been part of England's Six Nations game against Wales the previous day. 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. 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. Debrunner returns in the women's wheelchair race after missing the world record on the London course by just two seconds last year.
Conditions are expected to be dry for Sunday's race, with sunny intervals and light winds throughout the day. Temperatures will be around 10 degrees Celsius (50F) at the start, reaching highs of 17 degrees (63F) by mid-afternoon.
The late Kelvin Kiptum set the men's course record in 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 throughout, allowing users to track participants using their name or bib number.
The next edition of the London Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 25th, 2027. The public ballot to enter the 2027 edition is scheduled to open from 9 am on Friday, April 24, until 4 pm on Friday, May 1.