The London Marathon is back for another year, and over 59,000 people are expected on the start line this weekend.
A record 1,133,813 people entered the ballot for this year’s race, as the marathon craze continues into 2026.
The 2026 ballot saw 869,803 UK applicants and 264,011 non-UK applicants, meaning that the success rate was just 5 per cent.
The London Marathon is now the most popular marathon race in the world, and millions more will be flocking to the TCS website over the coming days to sign up for next year’s edition.
Almost 60,000 will run the streets of London
PA Wire
When is London Marathon 2026?
The first wave – the elite wheelchair field – go off at 8.50am BST.
The elite women’s gun goes off at 9.05am BST, before the elite men start at 9.35am, along with the first mass participation group – those aiming for two hours and 30 minutes or under.
After that, waves – of which there are 55 – will set off in increments up until 11.30am.
How to watch London Marathon 2026
TV channel: You can watch the London Marathon 2026 on BBC One for free, with coverage starting at 8.30am BST.
Live stream: You can stream coverage for free on BBC iPlayer with a valid TV licence.
Race ready: Patrick Dever, Phil Sesemann, Jessica Warner-Judd and Eilish McColgan
Getty
Who is running London Marathon 2026?
In the elite field, Emile Cairess was gunning to break Mo Farah’s British record of 2:05:11 in Chicago back in 2018.
However, Cairess, 28, has been ruled out of this race after suffering a calf injury during his training block.
The Bradford-born distance runner finished fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but was forced out of last year’s London Marathon with an ankle tendon problem.
As such, the British mantle will be passed over to Mahamed Mahamed and Phil Sesemann, who are the qiuckest of the home cohort in the men’s pen.
Charlie Sandison and Alfie Manthorpe, known for their social media content documenting their respective running journeys, will be at the back of the elite group with Manthorpe making his marathon-distance debut.
Double Olympic triathon gold-medallist Alex Yee, who ran a time of 2:11:08 in his marathon debut in London last year, was set to pace Cairess for a portion of the race, but he will now assume regular pacing duties after Cairess’ withdrawal.
On the women’s side, Rose Harvey is the quickest Brit with a PB of 2:23:21, while Eilish McColgan is hot on her tail with 2:24:25.
Jessica Warner-Judd comes in next with a 2:24:45, while Verity Hopkins and Louise Small complete the British group of elite women.
Tigst Assefa, the former world record holder, heads up the field and will be boosted by the absence of Ruth Chepng’etich, who was handed a three-year ban from the sport after she tested positive for the banned substance hydrochlorothiazide.