The TCS London Marathon 2026 is just days away now and over 50,000 runners will take to the streets of the capital in a bid to conquer 26.2 miles.Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa, last year’s champions in the elite men’s and women’s fields, return to defend their titles. Huge prize money is on offer for the winners, while bonuses are available for breaking tough barriers and even world records.There is talk of a two-day London Marathon in 2027, too, with the running boom showing no signs of stopping.Here’s everything you need to know about the London Marathon 2026: When is the London Marathon 2026?

The 2026 London Marathon is on Sunday, 26 April. The race starts in Blackheath and Greenwich, with the finish near Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Road, opposite St James’s Park.London Marathon start timesAll times BST08:50am Men’s and women’s elite wheelchair races 09:05am Elite women’s race at 9:05am. 09:35am Elite men and first mass participation wave (championship wave)Regular additional waves through to 11:30am.How to watch the London Marathon 2026You can follow the elite races and mass participation race with Independent Sport and our live blog. While the race will be on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the UK.

Coverage starts at 8:30am on BBC One. But live coverage will move to BBC Two at 2pm. While a second live stream will afford family and friends to spot runners at Tower Bridge from 10:30am and the Finish Line from 12:30pm on BBC iPlayer.

Highlights with Gabby Logan will air on BBC Two at 6:00pm.The London Marathon finish line with Buckingham Palace in the background (PA Media)London Marathon 2026 Elite fieldsWomen's FieldTigst Assefa 2:11:53Joyciline Jepkosgei 2:14:00Hellen Obiri 2:17:41Degitu Azimeraw 2:17:58Magdalena Shauri 2:18:02Eunice Chebichii Chumba 2:20:02Catherine Reline Amanang’ole 2:20:34Balemelay Shumet 2:21:59Rose Harvey 2:23:21Florencia Borelli 2:24:18Eilish McColgan 2:24:25Jessica Warner-Judd 2:24:45Fadouwa Ledhem 2:25:50Marta Galimany 2:26:14Lucy Reid 2:26:35Julia Paternain 2:27:09Louise Small 2:27:48Verity Hopkins 2:31:19Men's FieldSabastian Sawe 2:02:05Jacob Kiplimo 2:02:23Deresa Geleta 2:02:38Amos Kipruto 2:03:13Tamirat Tola 2:03:39Amanal Petros 2:04:03Geoffrey Kamworor 2:04:23Joshua Cheptegei2:04:52Shunya Kikuchi 2:06:06Mahamed Mahamed 2:07:05Philip Sesemann 2:07:10Hassan Chahdi 2:07:30Adam Lipschitz 2:08:54Patrick Dever 2:08:58Peter Lynch 2:09:36Tim Vincent 2:09:40Weynay Ghebresilasie 2:09:50Tewelde Menges 2:09:58Liam Boudin 2:10:28Jake Smith 2:11:00Jack Rowe 2:12:31Andrew Fyfe 2:13:20Alex Milne 2:14:03Peter Le Grice 2:14:45Sean Hogan 2:14:51Christopher Thomas 2:14:55Chris Perry 2:14:57David Bishop 2:15:16Charlie Sandison 2:15:38William Mycroft 2:15:54Yomif Kejelcha DebutHagos Gebrhiwet DebutIsaia Kipkoech Lasoi DebutAlfie Manthorpe DebutWhat is the prize money? Men’s and women’s elite races1st place - $55,0002nd place - $30,0003rd place - $22,5004th place - $15,0005th place - $10,0006th place - $7,5007th place - $5,0008th place - $4,0009th place - $3,00010th place - $2,00011th place - $1,50012th place - $1,000Additional bonusesElite men 2:02:00 - $150,000 2:03:00 - £100,0002:03:30 - $75,0002:04:00 - $50,000Elite women 2:15:00 - $150,0002:15:30 - £100,0002:16:00 - $75,0002:17:00 - $50,000Elite menFirst and men’s course record (2:01:25) - $25,000 First and men’s world record (2:00:35) - $125,000 Elite womenFirst and women’s course record (2:15:50) - $25,000 First and women’s world record (2:15:50) - $125,000 Elite men’s wheelchairFirst and men’s course record (1:23:44) $5,000 Elite women’s wheelchairFirst and women’s course record (1:34:18) $5,000