Stars Take to the Streets: Celebrities Join 59,000 Runners at the 2026 London Marathon
Dame Laura Kenny, Sir Ben Ainslie, Aaron Ramsey, Tony Adams, Sebastian Vettel, and actress Cynthia Erivo are among the celebrity participants taking on the 26.2-mile London Marathon course today, joining nearly 59,000 runners in the world's biggest annual one-day fundraising event.
Background
The TCS London Marathon, now in its 46th edition, has long attracted high-profile participants alongside elite athletes. The event, which starts at Greenwich Park and finishes on The Mall, passing landmarks including Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, and Big Ben, raised £87.3 million for charity in 2025 and is expected to surpass that figure this year.
Key Developments
Among the celebrity runners taking part today are Olympic cycling champion Dame Laura Kenny, sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie, former Arsenal and Wales footballer Aaron Ramsey, former Arsenal captain Tony Adams, former Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, and American actress Cynthia Erivo. British athletes competing in the elite field include Mahamed Mahamed, Phil Sesemann, Patrick Dever, Rose Harvey, Eilish McColgan, and Jess Warner-Judd.
In the wheelchair categories, David Weir — who holds the record of eight London Marathon wheelchair victories — is competing, alongside Eden Rainbow-Cooper in the women's wheelchair race. A total of 76 people are attempting 73 Guinness World Records at this year's event.
Live coverage is available on BBC One and BBC iPlayer throughout the morning, with the elite men's race starting at 9:35am BST. The ballot for the 2027 TCS London Marathon opened on Friday 24 April, and organisers are in discussions about a potential two-day event in 2027 that could allow 100,000 finishers and raise over £130 million for charity.
Why It Matters
The London Marathon is one of the UK's most beloved sporting and charitable events, bringing together elite athletes, celebrity participants, and tens of thousands of ordinary runners united by a shared goal. The event generates enormous economic activity for London and raises vital funds for thousands of charities across the country.
What's Next
Results from today's elite races will be available throughout the morning and afternoon. The FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Leeds United at Wembley kicks off at 3pm, making today one of the biggest days in the British sporting calendar.
