London Marathon 2026 Live: Time, Route, Preview & How to Watch

London is gearing up for the 46th edition of its iconic marathon, a 26.2-mile road race that has become one of the city's most celebrated annual events.

The course, which winds past landmarks like the Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge before finishing at Buckingham Palace, draws massive crowds each year.

More than just a premier sporting contest, the London Marathon is a cultural phenomenon where elite Olympians share the road with amateur runners, some famously dressed in elaborate costumes like Big Ben.

The marathon will be broadcast live on the BBC, with coverage starting at 10:30 a.m. on BBC One before switching to BBC Two at 4:00 p.m. The cutoff time for most runners to complete the course is typically around 9:00 p.m.

International broadcasters

United States, Australia, Canada – FloTrack

Spain – Teledeporte

Europe & Pan-Asia – Eurosport and discovery+

Brazil & Latin America – Disney+ / ESPN

China, Japan, Middle East & North Africa, New Zealand – Olympic Channel (streaming on Olympics.com)

Israel – Charlton

Italy – Rai Sport

Pan-Africa – SuperSport

China – GSM (Great Sports Media)

Key Start Times

10:50 a.m. - Elite Wheelchair Races (Men and Women)

11:05 a.m. - Elite Women's Race

11:35 a.m. - Elite Men's Race

The weather forecast for race day predicts sunny conditions with a gentle breeze, and temperatures ranging between 9°C and 15°C. This will be a welcome change from the 2023 event, where highs of 21°C prompted a heat alert for participants.

The London Marathon's point-to-point route has remained largely unchanged since its 1981 debut, starting in Blackheath and concluding on The Mall. For those cheering on friends and family, several key locations offer excellent viewing opportunities.

Top Viewing Spots

Cutty Sark (Mile 6.5): The first major landmark, where runners loop around the historic ship. The nearby Greenwich Foot Tunnel allows spectators to cross under the Thames and catch the runners again later in the race.

Surrey Quays: With excellent transport links, this area allows you to easily jump ahead to another point on the course. Tower Bridge (Just before halfway): A famously noisy and energetic spot. Runners cross the bridge and return near this point about 10 miles later, offering a chance to see them twice.

Canary Wharf (Mile 15+): The winding route through the financial district provides multiple chances to see the same runner in a relatively small area.

Embankment (Final stages): As runners head towards the finish, the wide roads along the Thames fill with an incredible atmosphere of support and encouragement.

The men's elite field is expected to be highly competitive, with favourites including Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo. Also in contention is Joshua Cheptegei, the 2024 Olympic gold medallist in the 10,000 metres.

The women's race promises to be particularly thrilling, featuring five of the six fastest female marathon runners in history. The lineup includes Tigst Assefa, Peres Jepchirchir, Sifan Hassan, Hellen Obiri, and Joyciline Jepkosgei.

Assefa set a women 's-only course record in 2025 with a time of 2:15:50, breaking the previous record set by Jepchirchir.