London Marathon 2026: Everything you need to know
Everything you need to know about this year's London Marathon, including where it's best to spectate.
[Getty] The 2026 TCS London Marathon is being held this weekend, bringing tens of thousands of runners to the capital for one of the world's biggest mass‑participation sporting events. The 26. 2‑mile course will start in Blackheath and Greenwich, winding through south‑east and central London before finishing on The Mall.
The field spans elite professionals, club runners, charity fundraisers and celebrity entrants, all covering the same 26. 2 miles. Extensive road closures will be in place across large parts of London from early morning through to the evening, with residents and spectators urged to plan journeys in advance.
[Getty] When is the London Marathon? The race takes place on Sunday. The first waves set off at around 09:30 BST and continue until roughly 11:30, with staggered starts to manage the volume of runners on the course.
The TCS Mini London Marathon is held the day before, on Saturday. Selected schools send pupils to run the final mile or so of the official route into The Mall. [Getty] What is the route?