London Marathon 2026 — traditional central route

London’s marathon returns on Sunday, April 26, on its traditional route from Blackheath and Greenwich to The Mall at Buckingham Palace. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The 2026 race is the 46th London Marathon, with wheelchair athletes starting from 8:50 a.m., elite women from 9:05 a.m., and elite men plus the mass field from 9:35 a.m. Organizers say the finish is on The Mall, with Horse Guards Parade used as the meet-and-greet area. (visitlondon.com) The course follows the familiar east-to-central line past Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace. London Marathon Events says the route is largely unchanged, though 2026 adds a new section called Woodland Way. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) That continuity comes after 2025 became the biggest marathon ever by finishers, with more than 55,600 people completing the race, according to Time Out. London Marathon Events also calls it the world’s biggest annual one-day fundraising event. (timeout.com) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) Demand has kept rising. Coverage ahead of Sunday’s race reported a record 1.13 million ballot applications for 2026, up 36 percent year on year, and about 59,000 runners expected on the start line. (express.co.uk) For Londoners, the route also means a full day of closures from southeast London into Westminster. Official resident leaflets say roads in Greenwich close from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while roads around Trafalgar Square close from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 1) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 2) London Marathon Events says yellow roadside signs are already posted on affected streets, and police officers and stewards will manage crossings and closures on race day. The organizer has published a dedicated road-closures page and area leaflets for residents and drivers. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) Runners must collect their event packs at the TCS London Marathon Running Show at Excel London by 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. The participant guide says the 2026 app will carry event passes and race-day information. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 1) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 2) By Sunday afternoon, the familiar images will be back: runners crossing Tower Bridge, turning by Parliament, and finishing on The Mall. In London, the route is part of the event’s identity as much as the 26.2 miles. (timeout.com)