How to Watch the 2026 London Marathon Online In the U.S.

By Oscar Hartzog

Oscar Hartzog

Contact Oscar Hartzog by Email View all posts by Oscar Hartzog April 25, 2026

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It’s gun time for the London Marathon on Sunday. One of six Abbott World Marathon Majors, the London Marathon features a landmark-heavy route, which winds along the River Thames and ends outside Buckingham Palace. It’s also famous for participants’ eclectic running costumes, which are often tied to charity efforts.

The event draws millions of spectators, including hundreds of thousands to the streets and many more to broadcasts and livestreams all over the world. If you’re looking to join the action from afar, read on for a brief guide on the best way to livestream the 2026 London Marathon online.

How to Watch the 2026 London Marathon Online

The best way to watch the London Marathon is through the marathon’s BBC broadcast, which is available in the U.K. on BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer, the company’s free streaming service.

If you’re located outside of the U.K., you can watch the free London Marathon livestream on BBC iPlayer with a VPN (virtual private network). These services let you connect to servers in different locations around the world, bypassing regional restrictions like the ones on BBC iPlayer.

ExpressVPN

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Use ExpressVPN to access the free London Marathon stream on BBC iPlayer

One of our favorite VPN services you can use to watch the London Marathon on BBC iPlayer is ExpressVPN. The popular VPN delivers fast performance to servers in 105 countries, extensive security measures, and affordable pricing. Monthly plans start at $12.99, but you can reduce the monthly cost to as little as $2.79 by paying for multiple months or years up-front. ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you choose not to keep the service.

Whichever plan you choose, you’ll be able to connect to BBC iPlayer and watch the London Marathon for free.

When Is the 2026 London Marathon? Date, Start Times

The 2026 London Marathon will take place on Sunday, April 26. Here’s the schedule for each group:

• 3:50 a.m. ET/8:50 a.m. BST: Elite Wheelchair Races
• 4:05 a.m. ET/9:05 a.m. BST: Elite Women’s Race
• 4:35 a.m. ET/9:35 a.m. BST: Elite Men’s Race
• 5:00 a.m. ET/10 a.m. BST onwards: Mass participation