The Boston Marathon takes place this Monday to kick off a jam-packed spring for world marathon majors, with London following hot on its heels the following week.The 130th edition of the world’s oldest continously run marathon begins in the rural town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, before winding its way to Boston and finishing on Bolyston Street, next to the Boston Public Library. 2025 champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir of Kenya both return to defend their titles, with Lokedi having smashed the course record by over two minutes to win in 2:17:22.Korir followed in older brother Wesley’s footsteps with his victory, recording a time of 2:04:45 as they made history as the only siblings to win the event. Kenyan Benson Kipruto - winner in New York last year - is another major contender to reclaim the title he won in 2021 as he returns to Boston for the first time since 2023, while 2025 world championships gold medallist Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania will be desperate to upgrade his runner-up place from last year.Another two Kenyans line up alongside compatriot Lokedi as favourites: last year’s fourth-place finisher Irine Cheptai and Vivian Cheruiyot, who won four Olympic medals on the track before switching to the marathon distance.

British hopes are represented by Calli Hauger-Thackery, who was sixth in Boston last year in 2:22:38 before winning the Honolulu Marathon in December and the Houston Marathon this January. The wheelchair divisions are headlined by seven-time Paralympic champion Marcel Hug, who is aiming for a fourth straight Boston title and ninth in total, while his compatriot Manuela Schar is hot favourite to take a fifth victory in Boston in the absence of defending champion Susannah Scaroni. John Korir won the men's race last year (Getty)Boston Marathon start timesAll times EDT (BST-5)Men’s Wheelchair – 9:06 a.m.

Women’s Wheelchair – 9:09 a.m. Handcycles & Duos – 9:30 a.m. Elite Men – 9:37 a.m. Elite Women – 9:47 a.m.

Para Athletics Division – 9:50 a.m. Wave 1 – 10:00 a.m. Wave 2 – 10:25 a.m. Wave 3 – 10:50 a.m.

Wave 4 – 11:15 a.m. How to watch the Boston Marathon 2026The Boston Marathon takes place on Monday 20 April 2026.Local viewers can watch on WCVB ABC, while viewers across the US can watch on ESPN2, with coverage getting underway at 9am EDT. In the UK the Marathon will be broadcast on TNT Sports and HBO Max, with coverage live from 2pm BST. Marcel Hug won an eighth Boston title last year (Getty)Boston Marathon 2026 Elite fieldsWomen's FieldSharon Lokedi (KEN) — 2:17:22 (Boston, 2025) CRIrine Cheptai (KEN) — 2:17:51 (Chicago, 2024)Workenesh Edesa (ETH) — 2:17:55 (Hamburg, 2025)Loice Chemnung (KEN) — 2:18:24 (Chicago, 2025)Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) — 2:18:27 (Dubai, 2025)Emily Sisson (USA) — 2:18:29 (Chicago, 2022) AR/NRMary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) — 2:19:26 (Chicago, 2025)Sara Hall* (USA) — 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)Calli Hauger-Thackery (GBR) — 2:21:24 (Berlin, 2024)Fikrte Wereta (ETH) — 2:21:32 (Seoul, 2024)Susanna Sullivan (USA) — 2:21:56 (Chicago, 2024)Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) — 2:22:10 (Orlando, 2024)Mao Uesugi (JPN) — 2:22:11 (Nagoya, 2025)Jess McClain (USA) — 2:22:43 (Boston, 2025)Erika Kemp (USA) — 2:22:56 (Houston, 2025)Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) — 2:22:59 (Valencia, 2024)Lisa Weightman* (AUS) — 2:23:15 (Osaka, 2023)Annie Frisbie (USA) — 2:23:21 (Boston, 2025)Mercy Chelangat (KEN) — 2:23:33 (Ottawa, 2025)Dakotah Popehn (USA) — 2:24:20 (Chicago, 2025)Amanda Vestri (USA) — 2:25:40 (NYC, 2025)Paige Wood (USA) — 2:26:02 (Sacramento, 2022)Stephanie Bruce (USA) — 2:27:47 (Chicago, 2019)Madey Dickson (USA) — 2:28:57 (Sacramento, 2025)Zaida Ramos (PER) — 2:29:49 (Seville, 2024)Elena Hayday (USA) — 2:30:51 (Duluth, 2023)Carrie Ellwood (USA) — 2:31:51 (Chicago, 2021)Diana Bogantes (CRI) — 2:32:08 (Valencia) NRMonica Hebner (USA) — 2:32:40 (Sacramento, 2024)Katie Florio (USA) — 2:32:44 (Philadelphia, 2024)Katie Kellner (USA) — 2:32:48 (Berlin, 2023)Breanna Sieracki (USA) — 2:32:53 (Sacramento, 2025)Carolyn Buchanan (CAN) — 2:32:54 (Sacramento, 2025)Marybeth Chelanga (USA) — 2:33:33 (Orlando, 2024)Elizabeth Chikotas (USA) — 2:33:57 (Sacramento, 2025)Ava Crean (IRL) — 2:34:12 (Dublin, 2025)Marte Maehlum-Johansen (NOR) — 2:34:54 (Hamburg, 2025)Megan O’Neil (USA) — 2:34:55 (Duluth, 2024)Maria Lindberg* (USA) — 2:34:59 (Chicago, 2025)Felicia Pasadyn (USA) — 2:35:17 (NYC, 2025)Julia Vasquez (USA) — 2:35:58 (Sacramento, 2025)Madeline Block (USA) — 2:36:28 (Sacramento, 2025)Alana Levy (USA) — 2:36:53 (Chicago, 2025)Isabel Tortorella (USA) — 2:37:07 (Sacramento, 2025)Caitlin McGinley (USA) — 2:37:12 (Lowell, 2025)Erin Del Giudice (USA) — 2:37:36 (Duluth, 2025)Teagan Robertson (CAN) — 2:37:51 (Sacramento, 2024)Cara Udvadia (USA) — 2:38:25 (Sacramento, 2025)Emilee Risteen (USA) — 2:38:46 (Duluth, 2023)Elizabeth Reichert (USA) — 2:38:49 (Sacramento, 2024)Marissa Lenger (USA) — 2:38:51 (Valley Cottage, 2023)Cassandra de Winter (CAN) — 2:39:52 (Victoria, 2025)Hannah Olde Loohuis (NED) — 2:40:39 (Amsterdam, 2025)Leanne Klas