Boston Marathon LIVE: Start times, schedule, how to watch on TV and latest updates

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)

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.

The sign, which read, “Runners welcome, walkers tolerated,” was seen at Nike’s Newbury Street location ahead of the Boston Marathon 2026, one of road running’s prestigious marathon majors.

But after online criticism and accusations that the brand was being exclusionary, the poster has now been taken down before the race, which is sponsored by competitors adidas.

On Friday, a statement from Nike was released: “We want more people to feel welcome in running—no matter their pace, experience, or the distance.

“During race week in Boston, we put up a series of signs to encourage runners. One of them missed the mark. We took it down, and we’ll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners.”

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.

On the women’s side, 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.

Both defending champions Sharon Lokedi – who set a course record last year – and John Korir are back to defend their titles.

But they’ll be challenged by a strong field.

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.

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.

The men’s race gets underway at 2.37pm BST, with the women following shortly after at 2.47pm BST.

The 130th edition of the world’s oldest continuously run marathon begins in the rural town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, before winding its way to Boston and finishing on Boylston 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.

Good morning and welcome to the Independent’s coverage of the 130th Boston Marathon.

Famously held on Monday, one of the world marathon majors promises plenty of world-class racing from Hopkinton through to the city centre in Boston.

It kicks off a big week, with London Marathon held on Sunday, too.

Stick with us for updates, times and reaction across one of the most iconic 26.2 mile courses.