The London Marathon has been a staple of the global running calendar since its inaugural edition in 1981, and over the past four decades it has generated more than £1.4 billion for charitable causes. As one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors – alongside Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and, from 2025, Sydney – the event is renowned for its fast, scenic route and its massive public appeal. Traditionally held in April, the race was temporarily shifted to October for three years (2020‑2022) because of the COVID‑19 pandemic.
In 2026 the marathon returns to its classic spring slot, with the wheelchair competition kicking off at 08:50 am on Sunday, followed by the women’s elite field at 09:05 am. The men’s elite race and the mass‑participation start are scheduled for 09:35 am. The 2026 course follows the familiar 26.2‑mile (42.195 km) layout that has become iconic for runners and spectators alike. Participants gather at three colour‑coded starting zones – Red, Blue and Green – located in Greenwich Park and Blackheath.
By the third mile, near Charlton, the three streams merge into a single line that heads westward through Woolwich, skirting the historic Cutty Sark and the River Thames. The route then weaves through Deptford, the modern waterfront of Surrey Quays, and the vibrant neighbourhood of Rotherhithe before crossing the 20 km mark near London Bridge.
From the bridge the course turns east, taking runners past the gleaming skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs. After a brief loop, the path swings back across the river, threading through the historic districts of Shadwell and Wapping. Runners then approach Tower Hill, continue along the Thames to Blackfriars, and follow the Embankment with the iconic London Eye on their left. The final stretch runs past Big Ben, through the parliamentary precinct of Westminster, and into St James’s Park before a grand finish on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.
A record‑breaking number of athletes are expected to line up this weekend. After a historic ballot that attracted 1.13 million applications, organisers anticipate more than 59 000 runners at the start line – a figure that would eclipse the previous high of 56 640 finishers recorded in 2025. That 2025 total held the world record for marathon finishers until it was surpassed by the TCS New York City Marathon, which saw 59 226 athletes cross the line in November. Among the celebrity entrants, pop star Harry Styles is not listed on the official celebrity start, but speculation remains that the Grammy‑winning singer might make a surprise appearance.
Styles impressed the running community last year when he broke the three‑hour barrier at the Berlin Marathon and previously competed in Tokyo in 2025. Other high‑profile participants include four‑time Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, who is running to raise money for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust, and celebrated jockey Sir Anthony (AP) McCoy, who will tackle his first marathon in support of the Matt Hampson Foundation. Olympians Dame Laura Kenny (supporting The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust) and Sir Ben Ainslie (backing the 1851 Trust) are also slated to run, alongside former Arsenal captain Tony Adams (The Forward Trust), ex‑England cricketer Sir Alastair Cook (the Ruth Strauss Foundation), and tennis star Laura Robson (Give It Your Max). In a whimsical twist, the beloved cartoon character Daddy Pig will appear both on screen and on the streets, with a costumed runner representing the National Deaf Children’s Society and an upcoming episode of the children’s series *Peppa Pig* featuring the marathon.
The entertainment roster continues with actor Jack O’Connell (Alzheimer’s Research UK), James Norton of *House of Guinness* (Breakthrough T1D), and McFly drummer Harry Judd, all confirmed for the 2026 edition. A full celebrity list can be accessed via the official marathon website. The race will be launched by sporting legends Sir Mo Farah and England women’s rugby star Ellie Kildunne.
Farah returns to the London Marathon for the first time since retiring from elite athletics in 2024, while Kildunne, a Red Roses Rugby World Cup winner, will start the race after playing in England’s Six Nations match against Wales the previous day. Past starters have included royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II, sporting greats like Sir Andy Murray, Lionesses captain Leah Williamson OBE, track stars Jill Scott MBE and Ellen White MBE, rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave and middle‑distance champion Dame Kelly Holmes.
The elite fields feature defending champions across all categories. In the women’s race, Tigist Assefa, who shattered the women‑only world record on her victorious 2025 run, leads a strong contingent that includes Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who unfortunately withdrew due to an Achilles injury. The men’s elite competition is expected to be a tight duel between defending champion Sebastian Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo, the half‑marathon world‑record holder who set his mark earlier this year.
Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta and Kenya’s Amos Kipruto are also among the likely challengers. In the wheelchair divisions, Marcel Hug aims to equal British Paralympian David Weir’s record of six London Marathon victories if he repeats his 2023 triumph, while Catherine Debrunner seeks a fourth women’s wheelchair title after missing the course record by a mere two seconds in 2025. Weather forecasts predict dry conditions with intermittent sunshine and light breezes throughout the day. Temperatures should start around 10 °C (50 °F) at the opening gun and rise to a comfortable 17 °C (63 °F) by mid‑afternoon, creating ideal circumstances for fast times.
Course records stand at 2:01:25 for men, set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023, and 2:15:50 for women, achieved by Assefa in 2025. In the wheelchair categories, Hug’s 2023 performance remains the benchmark for men, while Debrunner’s three wins in the past four years underline her dominance in the women’s field.
Spectators are expected to line the streets in the hundreds of thousands, with the sections around the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf traditionally drawing the largest crowds. Runners and fans can track live progress via the official TCS London Marathon app, which allows users to follow participants by name or bib number. Looking ahead, the next edition of the marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 25 April 2027.
The public ballot for the 2027 race opens at 09:00 am on Friday, 24 April, and closes at 16:00 pm on Friday, 1 May, giving hopeful entrants another chance to secure a place in this world‑renowned event.