The 2026 Boston Marathon takes place on Patriots' Day, featuring 30,000 racers on a 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. Defending champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir will compete in favorable weather conditions.
Key points
2026 Boston Marathon takes place on Patriots' Day
30,000 racers are expected to participate
Route spans 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boylston Street
Defending champions are Sharon Lokedi and John Korir
Weather conditions are partly sunny with temperatures in the upper 40s
Mentioned in this story
HopkintonBoylston Street
Boston MarathonSharon LokediJohn Korir
Race day is finally here! In celebration of Patriots' Day, the 2026 Boston Marathon is set to wind its way over a 26.2-mile route from Hopkinton to the traditional finish line on Boylston Street.
An estimated 30,000 racers will take to the streets for the 130th edition of the world's oldest continuously run marathon.
Defending women's and men's champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir will lead their respective fields in what should be perfect conditions for racers, with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 40s.
USA TODAY will be providing updates throughout the day on the progress of the runners, as well as any other activities happening along the race route.
How to watch 2026 Boston Marathon
The 2026 Boston Marathon will be broadcast on WCVB Channel 5 in Boston (and its regional sister stations) from 4 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET.
For those outside the Northeast, the race will air live on ESPN2 from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. ET.
What time is 2026 Boston Marathon?
The Boston Marathon staggers its start times for racers with the wheelchair participants starting first. The professional racers, both men and women, get a jump on the rest of the field – which is broken up into six different waves.
9:06 A.M. ET – Wheelchair Division – Men
9:09 A.M. ET – Wheelchair Division – Women
9:30 A.M. ET – Handcycles & Duo Participants
9:37 A.M. ET – Professional Men
9:47 A.M. ET – Professional Women
9:50 A.M. ET – Para Athletics Division
10:00 A.M. ET – Wave 1
10:15 A.M. ET – Wave 2
10:28 A.M. ET – Wave 3
10:41 A.M. ET – Wave 4
11:01 A.M. ET – Wave 5
11:21 A.M. ET – Wave 6
Q&A
What time does the 2026 Boston Marathon start?
The exact start time for the 2026 Boston Marathon will be announced closer to the event date.
How can I watch the 2026 Boston Marathon live?
You can watch the 2026 Boston Marathon live on USA TODAY and other broadcasting networks that cover the event.
What is the route for the 2026 Boston Marathon?
The 2026 Boston Marathon follows a 26.2-mile route starting in Hopkinton and finishing on Boylston Street.
Who are the defending champions of the Boston Marathon?
The defending champions for the 2026 Boston Marathon are Sharon Lokedi for the women's race and John Korir for the men's race.
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Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) crosses the finish line to win the 2025 Boston Marathon.
Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) crosses the finish line to win the 2025 Boston Marathon.
Notable 2026 Boston Marathon entrants
The Boston Athletic Association's website lists several celebrities, sports stars and other notable names who are running in the 2026 marathon. Among them:
Bryan Arenales, 2025 Love Island Season 7 winner
Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon Champion
**Zdeno Chara,**former Boston Bruins captain
**Chelsea Clinton,**author and advocate
Jeff DaRosa, musician, Dropkick Murphys
**Laura Green,**running comedian
Chris Herren, former Boston Celtics player
Kristine Lilly, former Team USA soccer player
Des Linden, 2018 Boston Marathon Champion
Suni Williams, astronaut and trailblazer
2026 Boston Marathon course
The 26.2-mile marathon course begins in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and heads through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline before going into Boston and finishing on Boylston Street, next to the Boston Public Library.
The full course map with mile markers, elevation and more information can be found on the Boston Marathon's website.
Boston Marathon map
The race starts in staggered waves at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on Main Street. Runners proceed along Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, and Wellesley before merging onto Route 16 into Newton. From there, the course turns onto Commonwealth Avenue and ascends the challenging Newton Hills, including the famous Heartbreak Hill between miles 20 and 21.
Afterward, it passes the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and continues onto Beacon Street through Brookline and Kenmore Square. The final stretch includes the well-known right turn onto Hereford Street and a left onto Boylston Street, culminating at Copley Square beside the Boston Public Library. — Elizabeth Flores
Who won 2025 Boston Marathon?
Last year, Sharon Lokedi of Kenya obliterated the course record by more than two minutes, using a blistering kick down the stretch to win the women's division in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 22 seconds.
In the men's race, Kenyan John Korir used a strong move around Mile 20 to separate himself from the rest of the leaders and win in 2:04:45. The victory allowed Korir to join his older brother, Wesley, as the only siblings to win the Boston Marathon.
