When is Boston Marathon 2026? Times, schedule, prize money, elite fields and how to watch on TV

Sharon Lokedi is back to defend her 2025 title at the Boston Marathon - (Getty)

The Boston Marathon takes place this Monday to kick off a jam-packed spring for world marathon majors, with London following hot on its heels the following week.

The 130th edition of the world’s oldest continously run marathon begins in the rural town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, before winding its way to Boston and finishing on Bolyston Street, next to the Boston Public Library.

2025 champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir of Kenya both return to defend their titles, with Lokedi having smashed the course record by over two minutes to win in 2:17:22.

Korir followed in older brother Wesley’s footsteps with his victory, recording a time of 2:04:45 as they made history as the only siblings to win the event.

Kenyan Benson Kipruto - winner in New York last year - is another major contender to reclaim the title he won in 2021 as he returns to Boston for the first time since 2023, while 2025 world championships gold medallist Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania will be desperate to upgrade his runner-up place from last year.

Another two Kenyans line up alongside compatriot Lokedi as favourites: last year’s fourth-place finisher Irine Cheptai and Vivian Cheruiyot, who won four Olympic medals on the track before switching to the marathon distance.

British hopes are represented by Calli Hauger-Thackery, who was sixth in Boston last year in 2:22:38 before winning the Honolulu Marathon in December and the Houston Marathon this January.

The wheelchair divisions are headlined by seven-time Paralympic champion Marcel Hug, who is aiming for a fourth straight Boston title and ninth in total, while his compatriot Manuela Schar is hot favourite to take a fifth victory in Boston in the absence of defending champion Susannah Scaroni.

John Korir won the men's race last year (Getty)

Boston Marathon start times

All times EDT (BST-5)

• Men’s Wheelchair – 9:06 a.m.
• Women’s Wheelchair – 9:09 a.m.
• Handcycles & Duos – 9:30 a.m.
• Elite Men – 9:37 a.m.
• Elite Women – 9:47 a.m.
• Para Athletics Division – 9:50 a.m.
• Wave 1 – 10:00 a.m.
• Wave 2 – 10:25 a.m.
• Wave 3 – 10:50 a.m.
• Wave 4 – 11:15 a.m.

How to watch the Boston Marathon 2026

The Boston Marathon takes place on Monday 20 April 2026.

Local viewers can watch on WCVB ABC, while viewers across the US can watch on ESPN2, with coverage getting underway at 9am EDT. In the UK the Marathon will be broadcast on TNT Sports and HBO Max, with coverage live from 2pm BST.

Marcel Hug won an eighth Boston title last year (Getty)

Boston Marathon 2026 Elite fields

Women's Field

• Sharon Lokedi (KEN) — 2:17:22 (Boston, 2025) CR
• Irine Cheptai (KEN) — 2:17:51 (Chicago, 2024)
• Workenesh Edesa (ETH) — 2:17:55 (Hamburg, 2025)
• Loice Chemnung (KEN) — 2:18:24 (Chicago, 2025)
• Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) — 2:18:27 (Dubai, 2025)
• Emily Sisson (USA) — 2:18:29 (Chicago, 2022) AR/NR
• Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) — 2:19:26 (Chicago, 2025)
• Sara Hall* (USA) — 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)
• Calli Hauger-Thackery (GBR) — 2:21:24 (Berlin, 2024)
• Fikrte Wereta (ETH) — 2:21:32 (Seoul, 2024)
• Susanna Sullivan (USA) — 2:21:56 (Chicago, 2024)
• Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) — 2:22:10 (Orlando, 2024)
• Mao Uesugi (JPN) — 2:22:11 (Nagoya, 2025)
• Jess McClain (USA) — 2:22:43 (Boston, 2025)
• Erika Kemp (USA) — 2:22:56 (Houston, 2025)
• Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) — 2:22:59 (Valencia, 2024)
• Lisa Weightman* (AUS) — 2:23:15 (Osaka, 2023)
• Annie Frisbie (USA) — 2:23:21 (Boston, 2025)
• Mercy Chelangat (KEN) — 2:23:33 (Ottawa, 2025)
• Dakotah Popehn (USA) — 2:24:20 (Chicago, 2025)
• Amanda Vestri (USA) — 2:25:40 (NYC, 2025)
• Paige Wood (USA) — 2:26:02 (Sacramento, 2022)
• Stephanie Bruce (USA) — 2:27:47 (Chicago, 2019)
• Madey Dickson (USA) — 2:28:57 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Zaida Ramos (PER) — 2:29:49 (Seville, 2024)
• Elena Hayday (USA) — 2:30:51 (Duluth, 2023)
• Carrie Ellwood (USA) — 2:31:51 (Chicago, 2021)
• Diana Bogantes (CRI) — 2:32:08 (Valencia) NR
• Monica Hebner (USA) — 2:32:40 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Katie Florio (USA) — 2:32:44 (Philadelphia, 2024)
• Katie Kellner (USA) — 2:32:48 (Berlin, 2023)
• Breanna Sieracki (USA) — 2:32:53 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Carolyn Buchanan (CAN) — 2:32:54 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Marybeth Chelanga (USA) — 2:33:33 (Orlando, 2024)
• Elizabeth Chikotas (USA) — 2:33:57 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Ava Crean (IRL) — 2:34:12 (Dublin, 2025)
• Marte Maehlum-Johansen (NOR) — 2:34:54 (Hamburg, 2025)
• Megan O’Neil (USA) — 2:34:55 (Duluth, 2024)
• Maria Lindberg* (USA) — 2:34:59 (Chicago, 2025)
• Felicia Pasadyn (USA) — 2:35:17 (NYC, 2025)
• Julia Vasquez (USA) — 2:35:58 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Madeline Block (USA) — 2:36:28 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Alana Levy (USA) — 2:36:53 (Chicago, 2025)
• Isabel Tortorella (USA) — 2:37:07 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Caitlin McGinley (USA) — 2:37:12 (Lowell, 2025)
• Erin Del Giudice (USA) — 2:37:36 (Duluth, 2025)
• Teagan Robertson (CAN) — 2:37:51 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Cara Udvadia (USA) — 2:38:25 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Emilee Risteen (USA) — 2:38:46 (Duluth, 2023)
• Elizabeth Reichert (USA) — 2:38:49 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Marissa Lenger (USA) — 2:38:51 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
• Cassandra de Winter (CAN) — 2:39:52 (Victoria, 2025)
• Hannah Olde Loohuis (NED) — 2:40:39 (Amsterdam, 2025)
• Leanne Klassen (CAN) — 2:40:56 (Houston, 2025)
• Karen Bertasso* (USA) — 2:41:15 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Polly Cunes* (CAN) — 2:41:27 (Chicago, 2025)
• Marije Geurtsen* (NED) — 2:42:45 (Berlin, 2019)

Men's Field

• Benson Kipruto (KEN) — 2:02:16 (Tokyo, 2024)
• John Korir (KEN) — 2:02:24 (Valencia, 2025)
• Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) — 2:03:17 (Berlin, 2024)
• Cybrian Kotut (KEN) — 2:03:22 (Berlin, 2024)
• Abdi Nageeye (NED) — 2:04:20 (London, 2025)
• Lemi Berhanu (ETH) — 2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)
• Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) — 2:04:35 (Sydney, 2025) CR
• Alex Masai (KEN) — 2:04:37 (Chicago, 2025)
• Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) — 2:04:38 (Valencia, 2024)
• Mohamed Esa (ETH) — 2:04:39 (Chicago, 2024)
• Benard Biwott (KEN) — 2:05:25 (Paris, 2025)
• Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) — 2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2025)
• Zouhair Talbi (MAR/USA) — 2:05:45 (Houston, 2026)
• Richard Ringer (GER) — 2:05:46 (Valencia, 2024)
• Sondre Nordstad Moen (NOR) — 2:05:48 (Fukuoka, 2017) NR
• Galen Rupp (USA) — 2:06:07 (Prague, 2018)
• Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) — 2:06:18 (Xiamen) NR
• Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) — 2:06:45 (Valencia, 2025)
• Rory Linkletter (CAN) — 2:06:49 (Chicago, 2025)
• Clayton Young (USA) — 2:07:04 (Boston, 2025)
• Tsegay Weldlibanos (ERI) — 2:07:35 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Patrick Tiernan (AUS) — 2:07:45 (Houston, 2024)
• Ryan Ford (USA) — 2:08:00 (Boston, 2025)
• CJ Albertson (USA) — 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024)
• Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) — 2:08:25 (Houston, 2025)
• Alex Maier (USA) — 2:08:33 (Dusseldorf, 2025)
• Amaury Paquet (BEL) — 2:08:44 (Valencia, 2023)
• Sam Chelanga* (USA) — 2:08:50 (Chicago, 2023)
• Ser-od Bat-Ochir* (MGL) — 2:08:50 (Fukuoka, 2014)
• Daniel Mesfun (USA) — 2:08:51 (Dublin, 2025)
• Wesley Kiptoo (USA) — 2:08:54 (Boston, 2025)
• Ben Preisner (CAN) — 2:08:58 (Oita, 2024)
• Segundo Jami (ECU) — 2:09:05 (Valencia, 2023) NR
• Turner Wiley (USA) — 2:09:27 (Chandler, 2025)
• Colin Bennie (USA) — 2:09:38 (Chandler, 2020)
• Charles Hicks (USA/GBR) — 2:09:59 (NYC, 2025)
• Tiidrek Nurme (EST) — 2:10:02 (Sevilla, 2020)
• Nick Hauger (USA) — 2:10:18 (Chandler, 2025)
• Joe Klecker (USA) — 2:10:37 (NYC, 2025)
• Chris Maxon (USA) — 2:10:55 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Juan Luis Barrios* (MEX) — 2:10:55 (Tokyo, 2018)
• Jacob Thomson (USA) — 2:10:56 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Thijs Nijhuis (DEN) — 2:10:57 (Seville, 2020)
• Barry Keane (IRL) — 2:11:31 (Chandler, 2025)
• Jason Weitzel (USA) — 2:11:45 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Murphy Smith (USA) — 2:11:59 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Charlie Sweeney (USA) — 2:12:00 (Boston, 2025)
• Robert Miranda (USA) — 2:12:07 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Riley Nedrow (USA) — 2:12:47 (Tucson, 2024)
• Matias Silva (CHI) — 2:12:48 (Seville, 2025)
• Ryan Johnson (USA) — 2:12:58 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Martin Olesen (DEN) — 2:13:17 (Valencia, 2025)
• Ben Olson (USA) — 2:13:25 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Ryan Eiler (USA) — 2:13:36 (NYC, 2024)
• Primoz Kobe* (SLO) — 2:13:36 (Siena, 2021)
• Jack Mastandrea (USA) — 2:14:02 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Jonathan Phillips (USA) — 2:14:11 (Duluth, 2022)
• Lars Dewall (USA) — 2:14:20 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Garret Lee (USA) — 2:14:28 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Esteban Trujillo* (USA) — 2:14:32 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Dominic Arce (USA) — 2:14:32 (Vancouver, 2025)
• Kristoffer Mugrage (USA) — 2:15:01 (Chandler, 2025)
• Edward Mulder (USA) — 2:15:07 (Berlin, 2025)
• Michael Ottesen (USA) — 2:15:21 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Charlie Lawrence (USA) — 2:16:10 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
• Prescott Leach* (USA) — 2:17:29 (Sacramento, 2023)
• Karabo L Koenaite Sr.* (RSA) — 2:18:03 (Cape Gate Vaal)
• Meng-Tsung S Chu* (TPE) — 2:19:36 (Berlin, 2024)
• Aaron Metler* (USA) — 2:19:48 (St. George, 2025)
• Petter Engdahl (SWE) — Debut
• Nicholas Kipkorir (KEN) — Debut

What is the prize money?

John Korir followed in his brother Wesley's footsteps by winning the major (Getty)

Men’s and women’s elite races

1st place - $150,000

2nd place - $75,000

3rd place - $40,000

4th place - $25,000

5th place - $18,000

6th place - $13,500

7th place - $10,500

8th place - $8,500

9th place - $7,000

10th place - $5,500

Course record bonus - $50,000

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