Key Points
- The 2026 London Marathon takes place on Sunday, April 26, with 50,000 runners covering 26.2 miles from Blackheath to The Mall.
- Around 800,000 spectators are expected to line the route and support participants.
- A large number of celebrities are set to run alongside members of the public in one of the world’s best-known road races.
- Cynthia Erivo is returning after completing the 2022 race in 3:35:36, and she is running for The King’s Trust and Shameless Fund.
- Tony Adams is set for his first London Marathon and is running for The Forward Trust.
- Sir Alastair Cook is back for the event, running for the Ruth Strauss Foundation with his brother.
- Dame Laura Kenny will make her marathon debut for The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.
- Aaron Ramsey is also making his debut, raising money for It’s Never You.
- Sebastian Vettel is taking part after retiring from Formula One, running for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust.
- Sir Ben Ainslie is set for his first marathon in support of the 1851 Trust.
- James Norton is running for Breakthrough T1D after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 22.
- Daddy Pig is among the headline names, running for the National Deaf Children’s Society.
- Joe Wicks, Jack O’Connell, Harry Judd, Sir Anthony McCoy, Ore Oduba, Aimee Fuller and John Robins are also on the start list.
Why is the London Marathon such a major event?
London (Britain Today News) April 25, 2026 – The London Marathon 2026 is set to bring together elite athletes, charity runners, celebrities and thousands of ordinary participants in a single city-wide sporting spectacle on Sunday, April 26. The scale of the event remains one of its defining features, with 50,000 runners and hundreds of thousands of supporters expected on the streets.
The race has long combined competition and fundraising, which is why so many public figures choose to take part. This year’s celebrity line-up again highlights the marathon’s wide appeal, with names from acting, music, sport, broadcasting and even children’s entertainment among the entrants.
Who is running in 2026?
As reported in the source material, Cynthia Erivo is returning to the marathon after her 2022 effort, when she finished in 3:35:36, and she is running for The King’s Trust and Shameless Fund. Tony Adams is set to run his first London Marathon for The Forward Trust, drawing on his own experience of recovery and rehabilitation.
Sir Alastair Cook is returning to support the Ruth Strauss Foundation, this time running with his brother. Dame Laura Kenny is making her debut for The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, while Aaron Ramsey is also making his first appearance in support of It’s Never You.
Sebastian Vettel is taking part after ending his Formula One career in 2022, and he is fundraising for the Brain & Spine Foundation and the Grand Prix Trust. Sir Ben Ainslie is entering his first marathon for the 1851 Trust, and James Norton is running for Breakthrough T1D after his type 1 diabetes diagnosis at the age of 22.
Which celebrities are returning?
Joe Wicks is back for a third London Marathon and is running for The Body Coach Foundation. Harry Judd is also returning, continuing his long-running association with the event after posting a 3:15 time in 2025.
Aimee Fuller and John Robins are also among the repeat entrants in this year’s field. The celebrity presence gives the marathon extra public interest, but each participant is also tied to a charitable cause, which remains central to the event’s identity.
Why are they running?
Many of the famous entrants are using the marathon to raise money and awareness for causes linked to personal experience. Dame Laura Kenny’s entry is connected to her own difficult pregnancy and ectopic pregnancy journey, while James Norton’s run is tied to his diabetes diagnosis.
Ore Oduba is running in memory of his sister Lola, who died by suicide last April, while Jack O’Connell is supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK. Sir Anthony McCoy is running for the Matt Hampson Foundation, and John Robins is raising funds for Stand Together Against Domestic Abuse.
The line-up also includes Daddy Pig, who is running for the National Deaf Children’s Society following the announcement that George Pig is moderately deaf. That unusual inclusion shows how the marathon continues to blend serious fundraising with broad public-facing appeal.
What does the celebrity list say about the race?
The 2026 field shows how the London Marathon has become more than a sporting contest, with participants drawn from film, television, music, elite sport and broadcasting. The mix of first-timers and return runners also suggests that the race remains a major personal challenge for well-known figures, not just a publicity opportunity.
The celebrity runners bring added attention, but the central story is still the same: thousands of people are taking on 26.2 miles for causes they care about. With such a large public turnout and strong fundraising focus, the event is expected to remain one of the most watched annual fixtures in the capital.
