London Marathon weekend
- The 2026 TCS London Marathon is set for Sunday, April 26, with more than 59,000 runners due at the Greenwich and Blackheath start for the race’s 46th edition. - Organizers say the field is the biggest in event history, after 1.13 million ballot applications, with more than 1,900 disabled participants and an eight-hour course limit ending at 23:59:59. - The race also brings citywide disruption across east and central London, with official tracking, road closures and route logistics published ahead of Sunday. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk)
More than 59,000 runners are due on the start line Sunday, April 26, for the 46th edition of the TCS London Marathon. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) London Marathon Events says the race starts in Greenwich and Blackheath and finishes on The Mall after 26.2 miles through south, east and central London. The organizer calls the 2026 field a record for the event. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 1) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 2) The scale this year starts with demand. Organizers say 1.13 million people entered the ballot, which they describe as a world record and enough to make this the world’s most popular marathon. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The makeup of the field has shifted younger too. London Marathon Events says more than one-third of United Kingdom applicants were ages 18 to 29, and the oldest registered runner this year is 88-year-old Harry Newton of Macclesfield. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) Organizers also say this will be the most inclusive London Marathon yet, with more than 1,900 disabled participants in the mass event. That group includes blind and visually impaired runners, deaf runners, wheelchair users and runners with mobility issues or neurodivergence. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) For runners, Saturday, April 25 is the deadline to collect event packs at the TCS London Marathon Running Show at ExCeL London. The participant guide says collection closes at 17:30 and requires a QR code plus photo identification. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 1) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk 2) The same guide says runners who cannot take part can request a deferral to 2027 by 23:59 on Saturday, April 25. It also lists finish-area services including a sensory calm tent, a parent-and-child tent and a multi-faith prayer tent. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) For friends and family, the official app is central to race day. London Marathon Events says the 2026 app includes real-time tracking and event alerts so supporters can follow runners’ progress on the course. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) For the rest of London, the practical issue is movement. Official road-closure notices show restrictions from the start areas in Blackheath and Charlton through Rotherhithe, Canary Wharf, the City and Westminster, with parking restrictions and designated vehicle crossing points. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The event overview says runners have eight hours to finish, after which they may be directed onto the pavement while staff continue supporting them to the line. The finish on Sunday closes at 23:59:59. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) By Sunday night, the race will have tested London’s transport grid, charity fundraising machine and appetite for mass participation all at once. The organizers’ number to watch is simple: more than 59,000 people expected to start. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk)
