The London Marathon 2026 is set to take place this Sunday, April 26, with over 56,000 participants expected to take on the iconic 26.2-mile course through the capital. The race begins at Blackheath and finishes at The Mall, Buckingham Palace, passing landmarks such as Tower Bridge.
London Marathon 2026 Start Time
Staggered start times for elite races begin around 8:50 AM, with mass participation waves starting from approximately 9:30 AM. All start lines close at 11:30 AM. The finish line on The Mall closes at around 7:30 PM, moving to St James's Park until midnight.
London Marathon 2026 Route
The marathon passes through six boroughs. Participants from three starting points converge near mile three in Woolwich. Key checkpoints include Cutty Sark (miles 6-7), Tower Bridge (mile 12), then east along The Highway to Westferry, Mudchute, Docklands, and Canary Wharf (mile 18). The final five miles go through The Highway, Tower Hill, Victoria Embankment, and Parliament Square (mile 25) before finishing on The Mall.
Best Spots to Watch
For those attending in person, avoid the start at Greenwich and Blackheath due to crowds. Rotherhithe Peninsula offers a two-mile stretch with bands and a Community Cheer Zone. Quieter spots include Deptford or the Isle of Dogs. Busy areas include Cutty Sark, Tower Hill, and St James's Park. For action, head to Tower Bridge (halfway) or The Mall (finish). Five accessible viewing areas are at Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, Rainbow Row, Tower Hill, and Victoria Embankment.
The BBC broadcasts the marathon live, starting at 8:30 AM on BBC One, moving to BBC Two at 2 PM.
