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Record breakers and finish line proposals: London Marathon in pictures

James W KellyLondon
News imageGetty Images A dense crowd of thousands of runners in colourful athletic gear fills a wide city street during the 2026 London Marathon.Getty Images
A record 59,000 people took part in the 2026 London Marathon

The 2026 London Marathon will go down in the record books.

Kenya's Sebastian Sawe stunned spectators to become the first marathon runner ever to officially log a sub-two hour finish at 01:59:30.

The capital's biggest sporting event also saw record-breaking participation with about 59,000 runners taking part and hundreds of thousands more lining the 26.2 mile route to show their support.

As well as records and personal bests being set, the London Marathon is set to have raise tens of millions of pounds for charity. It holds the title as the biggest one-day fundraising event, with nearly £90m raised last year.

News imageReuters A close-up of Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawe smiling and holding up a white running shoe with "1:59.30 WR Sub2" handwritten on the sole to celebrate his record-breaking finish.Reuters
Sebastian Sawe set the fastest marathon time in the world
News imageGetty Images An aerial view of a sea of marathon participants running across Tower Bridge, with the River Thames visible on either side.Getty Images
A sea of marathon participants stream across Tower Bridge
News imagePA Media Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa stands on a pink podium holding a running shoe next to a large digital clock displaying her world record time of 2:15:41.PA Media
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her title and set a new benchmark in the elite women's race
News imageGetty Images A marathon participant runs amongst the crowd while wearing a large, pink costume shaped like a Radox "Muscle Therapy" shower gel bottle.Getty Images
News imageGetty Images Runner Jordan Adams participates in the marathon while carrying a full-sized 25kg white fridge strapped to his back to raise funds for frontotemporal dementia research.Getty Images
Jordan Adams ran the route with a 25kg fridge on his back as part of fundraising efforts to tackle frontotemporal dementia, a condition that his mum died from
News imageEPA/Shutterstock A runner dressed in a large, white inflatable chicken costume with a red comb and yellow beak navigates the marathon route.EPA/Shutterstock
Why did the chicken run the marathon?
News imageGetty Images A blurred motion shot of runners passing, with the modern skyscrapers of the London city skyline in the background.Getty Images
The route takes in views of London's iconic skyline
News imagePA Media A male runner rests on one knee at the finish line, holding an open ring box as he proposes to a woman who is smiling and holding his hands.PA Media
Crowds cheered for one runner as he proposed to his now fiancé at the finish line
News imageGetty Images Several marathon finishers sit or lie flat on the ground in a designated rest area, showing visible signs of fatigue after completing the race.Getty Images
News imagePA Media Joe Wicks, wearing his finisher's medal, poses for a photo with a person dressed in a large Daddy Pig mascot costume representing the National Deaf Children's Society.PA Media
Daddy Pig and TV fitness aficionado Joe Wicks ran the marathon in a joint effort

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