London on 26.04.2026
Source: https://www.tcslondonmarathon.com/
The London Marathon is one of the world’s most iconic sporting events, combining elite athletics with a massive, carnival-like atmosphere of charity runners and fancy-dress participants.
Since it’s currently April 24, 2026, the city is right in the middle of marathon fever—the race is happening this Sunday!
🗓️ 2026 Event Details
- Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026.
- Start Time: The elite wheelchair races kick off at 8:50 am, followed by the elite women at 9:05 am. The mass participation waves begin at 9:35 am and run through 11:30 am.
- The Field: Roughly 59,000 runners are expected to take part this year, making it one of the largest editions yet.
- Route: The classic 26.2-mile course starts in Greenwich/Blackheath, passes the Cutty Sark, crosses Tower Bridge (the halfway point), winds through the Docklands, and finishes in front of Buckingham Palace on The Mall.
🏛️ History & Significance
Founded in 1981 by Olympic champions Chris Brasher and John Disley, the race was inspired by the New York City Marathon. The founders wanted to show that the “human race can be one joyous family.”
- World Marathon Major: London is part of the “Abbott World Marathon Majors,” alongside Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin, Tokyo, and the newly added Sydney.
- Charity Powerhouse: It is the largest annual one-day fundraising event in the world. Since its inception, participants have raised over £1.4 billion for various causes.
- World Records: The fast, flat course has seen the marathon world record broken seven times, including legendary runs by Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany.
💡 Pro-Tips for the Weekend
- Transport: If you’re running, your race bib usually grants you free travel on the Underground, DLR, and buses until early Monday morning.
- Tracking: If you’re supporting someone, use the official TCS London Marathon app. It’s the best way to track their progress via their timing chip so you don’t miss them at the cheering points.
- The “Wall”: Most runners hit “the wall” around mile 20 (Canary Wharf). If you’re spectating, that’s where your cheers are needed most!
For the 2026 London Marathon, which is happening this Sunday, April 26, the event continues to feature its core competitive and participation disciplines.
The term “disciplines” in the context of the marathon typically refers to the different race categories that start at staggered times. Here is the lineup for the 2026 rollout:
🏃 2026 Race Disciplines & Schedule
The race starts in phases at Blackheath/Greenwich to manage the massive field of over 59,000 runners:
- 08:50 am — Elite Wheelchair Race: The world’s top para-athletes lead the charge. This year, all eyes are on Marcel Hug, who is attempting to win his eighth title and equal David Weir’s historic record.
- 09:05 am — Elite Women: A standalone start for the world’s fastest women. This discipline is particularly high-stakes this year as Tigst Assefa returns to defend her title and her women-only world record.
- 09:35 am — Elite Men: The top-tier male athletes, including defending champion Sabastian Sawe, head out.
- 09:35 am – 11:30 am — Mass Participation: This is the heart of the event, where thousands of “fun runners,” charity fundraisers, and club athletes set off in color-coded waves (Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow).
🔄 What’s “Rolling Out” (Key Changes)
While the course remains the classic route from Greenwich to The Mall, there have been some specific updates to the entry disciplines and qualifications for 2026:
- Championship Field Expansion: The “Championship” discipline (for high-level club runners) has seen its field size increased to 600 men and 600 women (up from 500 each).
- Stricter Qualification: There has been a shift in how runners qualify for “Good for Age” (GFA) and Championship spots. Most notably, the organizers have moved away from allowing Half Marathon times for certain qualification paths if you have already run a full marathon, placing more emphasis on full marathon performance within the qualifying window.
- Virtual Marathon: The Virtual TCS London Marathon also rolls out on the same day, allowing thousands of participants worldwide to run 26.2 miles in their local area between 00:00 and 23:59:59 BST to earn the same finisher medal.
📍 Route Highlights
All disciplines will follow the same iconic 26.2-mile path passing:
- Mile 6: The Cutty Sark.
- Mile 12: Tower Bridge (the halfway “scream” point).
- Mile 18-20: Canary Wharf (the most mentally challenging section).
- Mile 25: Embankment and Big Ben.
- Finish: The Mall, right in front of Buckingham Palace.
Results of the The TCS London Marathon 2026
The 2026 TCS London Marathon was a historic event, highlighted by a monumental achievement in the men’s elite race where the sub-two-hour barrier was broken in a competitive race for the first time.
Elite Men’s Race
Sabastian Sawe made history by becoming the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon in competitive race conditions. He finished with a stunning time of 1:59:30, shattering the previous course record. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also delivered a legendary performance, finishing just seconds behind in 1:59:41.
| # | Runner | Country | Time |
| 1 | Sabastian Sawe | KEN | 1:59:30 (World Record) |
| 2 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 1:59:41 |
| 3 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | (Time TBD/Top 3 Finish) |
Elite Women’s Race
Tigst Assefa successfully defended her title, securing back-to-back wins in London. She set a new women-only world record with a time of 2:15:41, pulling away from a tight lead pack in the final stages of the race.
| # | Runner | Country | Time |
| 1 | Tigst Assefa | ETH | 2:15:41 (Women-only WR) |
| 2 | Hellen Obiri | KEN | 2:15:53 |
| 3 | Joyciline Jepkosgei | KEN | 2:15:55 |
Wheelchair Races
Switzerland dominated the wheelchair categories, with both defending champions returning to the top of the podium.
- Men’s Wheelchair: Marcel Hug claimed his record-equalling eighth London Marathon title with a time of 1:24:13. China’s Luo Xingchuan took second on his debut, and British legend David Weir finished third.
- Women’s Wheelchair: Catherine Debrunner won her third consecutive London title (and fourth overall) in 1:38:29, narrowly defeating American Tatyana McFadden in a sprint finish.
Race Highlights
- Participant Record: Approximately 59,000 runners took part, marking the largest field in the event’s history.
- New Route Feature: The 2026 race introduced “Woodland Way,” an immersive stretch of the course near Mile 14 featuring native trees and nature sounds.
- Charity: The official charity for the 2026 race was Marie Curie.
