How to watch the London Marathon 2026 live

The London Marathon 2026 returns to the streets of London on April 26th, 2026, with full-day coverage available across free and paid platforms. Race day follows a structured schedule, starting with the wheelchair race at 8:50 AM BST, followed by the elite women at 9:05 AM BST, elite men at 9:35 AM BST, and mass participation runners shortly after.

If you want to watch the London Marathon live, the simplest option is free coverage in the UK via BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Viewers outside the UK can use official broadcasters where available or connect through a VPN to access the BBC stream.

How to watch the London Marathon worldwide

If you are outside the UK, access depends on local broadcasters. In many cases, coverage is limited or requires a paid sports subscription. The most reliable option is to use a VPN to access UK coverage on BBC iPlayer. Here’s how to watch abroad:

1. Install a VPN on your device – I recommend NordVPN
2. Open the app and connect to a UK server
3. Open BBC iPlayer and search for the London Marathon stream
4. Start the live stream

London Marathon 2026 schedule and start times

The race follows a staggered start format, which helps spread runners across the course. The race will take place on April 26th, 2026, at the following times:

Event	UK (BST)	US ET	US PT	Australia (AEST)
Wheelchair race	8:50 AM	3:50 AM	12:50 AM	5:50 PM
Elite women	9:05 AM	4:05 AM	1:05 AM	6:05 PM
Elite men	9:35 AM	4:35 AM	1:35 AM	6:35 PM

Best VPNs for watching the London Marathon

At Cybernews, we tested multiple VPNs for streaming live events. These three delivered the most stable results:

1. NordVPN – best overall for speed and reliability with UK servers
2. Surfshark – affordable option with unlimited device connections
3. Proton VPN – strong privacy focus with consistent streaming performance

From our testing, NordVPN handled long live streams best, while Surfshark is a better pick for multiple users.

London Marathon route and key landmarks

The course is one of the most recognizable marathon routes in the world. It starts in Greenwich and finishes on The Mall near Buckingham Palace. Key sections include:

• Tower Bridge – one of the most photographed parts of the race
• Canary Wharf – a quieter but demanding section
• Embankment – where crowds build toward the finish

The route is relatively flat, which is why it regularly produces fast finishing times.

Past winners and records

The London Marathon has seen some of the fastest performances in history. Notable names include:

• Eliud Kipchoge – multiple-time winner and Olympic champion
• Kelvin Kiptum – set the marathon world record in 2023
• Paula Radcliffe – long-time course record holder

These performances helped establish London as one of the fastest and most competitive marathon events.

What devices can you use to watch

You can watch the London Marathon on most devices that support streaming. Common options include:

• Smart TVs with BBC iPlayer
• Smartphones and tablets via apps
• Laptops and desktops through a browser
• Streaming devices like Fire TV and Chromecast

When I tested streaming setups, smart TVs worked best for long viewing sessions, while mobile apps were useful for checking key race moments.

Final thoughts

The London Marathon remains one of the easiest major sporting events to watch, thanks to free BBC coverage. If you are in the UK, BBC iPlayer is the most straightforward option.

If you are abroad, using a VPN is the simplest way to access the same stream. Based on our testing at Cybernews, NordVPN offers the most consistent performance, while Surfshark and Proton VPN are strong alternatives depending on your needs.