Boston Marathon 2026 Live Stream: How to Watch for Free

Defending champions Korir and Lokedi lead competitive field in New England

Apr. 20, 2026 at 9:00am

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A cubist-style painting depicting the Boston Marathon race in a fractured, geometric style, with runners, spectators, and the city's skyline broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.A cubist interpretation of the energy and excitement of the 2026 Boston Marathon, with runners and spectators captured in a dynamic, fragmented composition.Boston Today

The 130th running of the Boston Marathon takes place on Monday, April 20, 2026, with over 30,000 runners set to take on the iconic 26.2-mile course. Defending champions John Korir and Sharon Lokedi of Kenya will be among the favorites, leading a strong elite field. Fans around the world can watch the race live through a variety of free and paid streaming options.

Why it matters

The Boston Marathon is one of the world's most prestigious road races, drawing top international talent and massive global viewership. As the second stop on the 2026 World Marathon Majors calendar, the event will showcase the sport's best athletes and provide an exciting spectacle for running fans.

The details

In the men's race, 10 athletes have run sub-2:05 marathons, including Korir and fellow Kenyan Benson Kipruto. Other contenders include reigning world champion Alphonce Felix Simbu, experienced Kenyan Cybrian Kotut, and rising American stars Conner Mantz and Alex Maier. The women's field is equally stacked, with Lokedi aiming to defend her title after setting a course record in 2025. Two-time winner Hellen Obiri, Irine Cheptai, and Workenesh Edesa will challenge, along with a strong American contingent led by Fiona O'Keeffe.

  • The 2026 Boston Marathon takes place on Monday, April 20.
  • The race starts at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. BST / 11 p.m. AEST.

The players

John Korir

The defending men's champion from Kenya.

Sharon Lokedi

The defending women's champion from Kenya, who set a course record in 2025.

Alphonce Felix Simbu

The reigning world marathon champion.

Conner Mantz

The American record holder in the marathon.

Fiona O'Keeffe

A leading American contender who won the 2024 Olympic trials.

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What they’re saying

“The Boston Marathon always attracts the world's best athletes, and this year's field is no exception. It's going to be an exciting race to watch.”

— Conner Mantz, American marathon runner

What’s next

The 2026 Boston Marathon will be followed by the London Marathon, the third stop on the World Marathon Majors calendar, in late April.

The takeaway

The 130th running of the historic Boston Marathon promises to be a thrilling event, with a deep field of elite international and American runners vying for the prestigious title in one of the world's most iconic road races.