TCS London Marathon 2026 Draws Record 1.13M Entries

The TCS London Marathon 2026 is set to draw a record crowd of runners and spectators to London's streets on Sunday, April 26, as over 50,000 participants tackle the iconic 26.2-mile course from Blackheath and Greenwich to the finish near Buckingham Palace and The Mall.

Organizers reported a staggering 1.13 million applications for entry, shattering previous records and highlighting the event's global appeal amid a surge in running participation. The race, which begins with elite wheelchair events at 8:50 a.m. BST followed by the elite women's start at 9:05 a.m. and men's at 9:35 a.m., will see mass waves depart from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Defending champions Sebastian Sawe in the men's elite field and Tigst Assefa in the women's will return to compete for top prizes of 55,000 pounds each, with additional bonuses for record-breaking times, including 150,000 pounds for men under 2:00:00 or women under 2:15:00.

The marathon's route remains largely unchanged since its 1981 debut, winding past landmarks like the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, and the Thames Embankment before concluding in Westminster. New features this year include the Woodland Way section at mile 10 for a natural...