Almost 60,000 runners are set to take to the streets of the big smoke for the London Marathon 2026 this weekend, following a record 1,133,813 ballot applications for a spot.
Starting in Blackheath and Greenwich, the 26.2 mile route will wind through south-east and central London before finishing in The Mall.
As ever, a star-studded line-up of contestants is expected to rub shoulders with professional competitors, club runners and charity fundraisers.
Over 50 celebrities are expected to be taking part in the 46th edition of the race this year, kicking off on Sunday, April 26.
Among those is an A-list star of stage and screen, an X-Factor winner and future Celebrity X-Factor star, plus an iconic BBC villain and, uh, Peppa Pig’s dad.
Here’s some of the biggest faces running the London Marathon in 2026.
Cynthia Erivo
The Broadway star and Wicked actress will be running the London Marathon again after previously competing in 2022 with a finishing time of 3:35:36.
She will be running on behalf of The Kings Trust and the Shameless Fund.
This year, she’s targeting a goal of 3:15, sharing her rigorous workout routine with Women’s Health ahead of the big day.
In addition to a training diet which includes nuts, protein bars, gels, water and vitamins, the actress shared how she has ‘a tea on the go all the time.’
James Norton
The Happy Valley actor will be making his marathon debut for Breakthrough T1D, a type 1 Diabetes research and advocacy organisation.
On his JustGiving page, James describes himself as ‘a little apprehensive’ of the big day, which he’s doing on behalf of himself, his mother and his sister, all of whom have Type 1 diabetes.
‘I’ve never run a marathon before. The notion of running 26 miles in one go has always seemed like a mad idea,’ said James.
He added: ‘However, the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for this incredible charity makes it more than worth it.’
Alexandra Burke
X-Factor winner and future Celebrity Apprentice star Alexandra will be running the marathon for Parkinson UK.
This isn’t her first rodeo – she previously completed the London Marathon for the first time last year.
She told Runners World: ‘This one hopefully won’t be my last. As soon as I had crossed the finishing line, I said, “Can I do it again tomorrow?”
Opening up to the magazine, she revealed that last year’s run had been slowed down due to a fellow competitor collapsing on the track.
‘When a guy collapsed in front of me at last year’s marathon, I had to stop. We waited for paramedics to arrive, and luckily, he was fine, so my time was much slower than I had hoped,’ she said.
Still, she’d do it all over again, admitting: ‘If it happens again, my heart wouldn’t allow me to leave someone there and run on.’
Jack O’Connell
Most recently appearing in Sinners and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the Skins star will partake in his first London Marathon this year.
While this is his first time, Jack has experience in the sport – previously playing runner Louis Zamperini in the 2014 film Unbroken.
It was a feat he completed with around two weeks’ training, according to Deadline.
He will do so in support of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Aimee Fuller
The two-time Team GB Winter Olympian previously completed the race in 2024 with a finish time of 03:48.
After first She’ll be competing again this year alongside fellow Olympians Dame Laura Kenny, Sir Ben Ainslie, Aaron Ramsey and Chris Newton.
Aimee previously described her 2025 approach as one of ‘no plan, no pressure, go out and enjoy it.’
Laura Doddington
Also raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK is EastEnders star Laura Doddington, who plays Nicola Mitchell on the soap.
On her JustGiving page, the actress wrote: ‘Back in January when I signed up to do this I thought I was still as fit as I was at 25 and 26.2 miles wasn’t that far.
‘Of course over the last 3 months I have found these things to be totally untrue!’
Like many others, this marks her London Marathon debut.
Curtis and AJ Pritchard
Love Island star Curtis joins fellow TV personality and brother AJ in racing for Marie Curie.
This all-star squad also includes Zara Zoffany, Jenni Falconer, Matthew Haywood, Adrian Sanderson, Lucas Aurelio and Dan Hudson.
In the comments beneath the Instagram announcement by Marie Curie, AJ wrote: ‘Excited for this challenge… 🏃🏻♂️ First ever marathon. !!’
Meanwhile, brother Curtis posted a series of muscular arm emojis accompanied by a pair of boxing gloves.
Joe Wicks
The body coach himself, Joe Wicks will be participating in his third London Marathon this year.
He kicked off events by cutting the ribbon for the TCS London Marathon Running Show alongside running icon Paula Radcliffe and, uh, Daddy Pig.
He will be running for his charity, The Body Coach Foundation.
What are some of the best times run by celebrities?
- Spencer Matthews (2025) – 03:07:25
- Harry Judd (2022) – 3:14:37
- Adele Roberts (2023) – 3:30:22
- Cynthia Erivo (2022) 3:30:26
- Gordon Ramsay (2004) – 3:30:37
- Joe Wicks (2025) – 3:40:00
Daddy Pig
Joe Wicks serves as the official coach for Daddy Pig – yes, that one – who is raising money for the National Deaf Children’s Society.
Announcing the news, Daddy Pig wrote: ‘I have some oink-tastic news – I’ll be running the 2026 London Marathon for the National Deaf Children’s Society.
He continued: ‘It’s a huge undertaking, and 26.2 miles is nothing to snort at! But I’ll be taking on this challenge for George and to show that nothing should hold deaf children back.’
Daddy Pig has currently raised just over £6000 of his £10,000 target.
Harry Judd
The McFly drummer returns after running last year’s London Marathon, clocking an impressive time of 3:15.
Listing his interests as ‘drums and running mostly’ on his Instagram page, the Celebrity Race Across the World star is a keen fitness fanatic.
He’s back in spite of a brief scare during which he briefly ‘dropped out’ of the competition.
As he explained in an Instagram post: ‘I won’t bore you with the details but I’ve been managing an injury that seemed to be unmanageable for the past two weeks.’
However, after a run earlier this week, Harry revealed that he seemed to have recovered and now plans to beat his personal best.
Ore Oduba
The TV presenter and performer will be raising money for Black Girls Hike and Smartphone Free Childhood on behalf of sibling Lola, who took their own life last year.
This will be the former CBBC presenter’s first marathon – and probably his last, if the gruelling training regime is anything to go by.
‘I don’t know that I’ve ever done anything harder,’ he told Metro.co.uk. ‘It’s not like you can step out of the house, run for two hours, then be straight back on your laptop. I come in dishevelled.
The TCS London Marathon takes place on Sunday, April 26. You can find out more here.
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