For the best viewing experience, please use the Chrome browser. The London Marathon, a staple in 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. Although traditionally held in April, the event was rescheduled to October from 2020 to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2026 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. Participants will start at either Greenwich Park or Blackheath, divided into color-coded groups, and converge by Mile 3 near Charlton. The route then proceeds through Woolwich, the Thames, and the Cutty Sark, passing through Deptford, Surrey Quays, and Rotherhithe before reaching London Bridge.
Runners will then head towards Canary Wharf, the Isle of Dogs, and loop back through Shadwell and Wapping, passing Tower Hill and the Embankment. With the London Eye and Big Ben in sight, runners will make their way past Westminster and St James' Park, finishing at The Mall. A record number of participants are expected, following a world record 1.13 million ballot applications.
Despite not being on the celebrity start list, fans speculate about a potential entry by pop star Harry Styles, who has completed marathons in Berlin and Tokyo. Other notable participants include four-time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, Olympians Dame Laura Kenny and Sir Ben Ainslie, and celebrities such as Tony Adams, Sir Alastair Cook, and Jack O'Connell. The 2026 edition will be started by Sir Mo Farah and Ellie Kildunne.
The elite races feature defending champions Sebastian Sawe, Tigst Assefa, Marcel Hug, and Catherine Debrunner. With sunny intervals and light winds expected, temperatures will range from 10°C to 17°C throughout the day.
The men's course record was set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, while Assefa won the women's race in a record time last year. Spectators can track runners using the TCS London Marathon app, and the next edition is scheduled for April 25, 2027.