A record-number of people are taking part in the 2026 TCS London Marathon today, including celebrities and MPs.
Over 59,000 people are expected to run the 26.2mile route through the capital today after a record-breaking 1.13million entered to participate in the race.
Alongside gratification for completing one of the world’s most iconic sporting events, the London Marathon actually offers a significant amount of prize money to the elite athletes competing, but how much?
How much is the London Marathon prize money?
In 2024, the event created history by becoming the first marathon in the world to ensure equal distribution of prize money between able-bodied athletes and wheelchair racers.
For this year’s event, the elite men’s and women’s able-bodied races and men’s and women’s wheelchair races all offer over £40,000 ($55,000) for participants who place first, over £22,000 ($30,000) for placing second, and over £16,000 ($22,500) for placing third.
There are also bonuses on offer for running sub-2:02 for the men and sub-2:15 for the women, and additional bonus each for breaking a new course record for men’s and women’s able-bodied races and men’s and women’s wheelchair races.
Will any world records be broken?
The 2026 London Marathon has already managed to break a record after achieving a historic 1,133,813 applications for the race’s public ballot, a 36% increase from 2025’s public ballot.
Many participants in this year’s event hope their quirky attempts to break records will help boost their fundraising efforts for their chosen charities.
No record attempts have so far been confirmed, but TCS London Marathon always updates their website with a roundup of all the records broken during the event.
Last year’s race, for example, saw over 40 new Guinness World Records alone, including several participants breaking records for completing the race while dressed as aliens, crustaceans, pirates, birds, traffic cones, and more.
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