London Marathon 2026: 59,000 runners get set to take on 26.2-mile race with temperatures to hit 20C

Cynthia Erivo, James Norton and Harry Judd are just a few of the celebrities attending this year’s event.

Other big names include:

• Tony Adams- Former Arsenal and England captain and Chairman of The Forward Trust
• Sir Alastair Cook – England cricket legend
• Mistress Laura Kenny – Britain’s most decorated female Olympian
• Joe Wicks – Fitness coach and bestselling author known as The Body Coach
• Harry Clark- Winner of the second season of traitors
• Samantha Spiro- Award-winning British actress
• Daddy Pig – Chief Puddle‑Jumper and avid runner

The women’s elite race has now officially begun.

Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa set the dash time at two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.

Rose Harvey, Eilish McColgan, Louise Small and Verity Hopkins will fly the British flag.

To whom did you place your hope?

The race, which was held for the 46th time this year, officially begins with the elite wheelchair racers walking away from the starting line.

Last year, the person who received the first prize for the fifth consecutive time was Swiss sensation Marcel Hug.

Another win today would take him level with David Weir, the most successful athlete in the history of the London Marathon.

Runners are now making their way to the starting line ahead of their big race.

Wheelchair event attendees will likely arrive only a few minutes before the event starts.

Singing Striders was initially excluded from Sunday’s race due to founder Janet Murray’s criticisms of gender ideology.

However, after only one member said they would continue performing, it was decided to reinstate them.

Disability charity Scope told Ms Murray here that her views went against its ‘commitment to diversity and inclusion’.

Charitable patrons said:

Your opinions concern us because we disagree with your views.

Read more here:

Cutty Sark is the first landmark spotted 6.5 miles into the route.

Next up is Tower Bridge, 20.1 miles away, we cross the Thames around the halfway point.

A run east from Canary Wharf sees a pass by Cleopatra’s Needle and the Tower of London before Big Ben comes into view.

Parliament Square is a signal to runners that they are close to the finish line before The Mall and Buckingham Palace mark the finish line.

If you’re in the UK, you’ll be able to watch the London Marathon live on BBC; Extensive television coverage and online streaming is also available via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Expect high temperatures in the 20s with sunny spells and light winds.

Runners were advised not to skimp on sunscreen as moderate UV levels were predicted.

Sunshine is expected to be felt in front of the men’s and women’s elite wheelchairs before temperatures reach around 13C when non-elite runners set off in the morning.

Some clouds are expected to appear starting from noon.

The Met Office said:

There will be some hazy sunlight; the best of these will be in southern England and Wales.

There is a risk of showers, especially across Scotland. Highs reaching 21C or 22C.

Today’s event will start at 8.50am with the elite wheelchairs disembarking from the Start Line.

The elite women will start at 8.50am, while the elite men and masses will start at 9.35am.

The record to be broken currently stands at two hours, one minute and 25 seconds, which is Sebastian Sawe’s three-year time.

But of course many spectators’ eyes will be on the more than 59,000 runners taking part for the first time or hoping to set a new personal record.

Good morning to the days when the 46th annual London Marathon is expected to be sunny.

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates from today’s event, from crazy costumes and changing British weather to huge new records.