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London Marathon Sends Off About 59,000 Runners as 2026 Race Gets Underway

Record demand is reshaping the event, with a potential two‑day 2027 race under review.

Overview

  • BBC coverage, which began at 8:30am on Sunday, is on BBC One before switching to BBC Two at 2pm with iPlayer streaming all day including Tower Bridge and finish‑line feeds.
  • Race day scheduling sets the wheelchair start for 8:50am, the elite women for 9:05am, and the elite men and first mass wave for 9:35am, with rolling starts through 11:30am.
  • Defending champions Tigst Assefa and Sabastian Sawe headline deep elite fields that also feature Hellen Obiri and Jacob Kiplimo, with $55,000 for winners and large time‑based bonuses and record bounties.
  • Spectators can track friends and view live splits and estimated finish times through the official TCS London Marathon app or follow live results on the event website.
  • Surging interest produced a record 1,133,813 ballot entries for 2026, and the 2027 public ballot is open from April 24 to May 1 with results due in July as organisers explore, without approval yet, a one‑off two‑day event to expand places.