Boston Marathon 2026: TV, start times, results and route map

The 130th Boston Marathon takes place April 20, 2026, running 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boylston Street with about 30,000 runners; WCVB Channel 5 will broadcast locally from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET and ESPN2 will air the race for other regions from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.

Race day is underway for the 130th Boston Marathon, held on Patriots' Day and running 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to the traditional finish on Boylston Street. The field is large, with an estimated 30,000 racers taking part. Defending champions Sharon Lokedi and John Korir are listed among the professional starters. Conditions are described as partly sunny with temperatures in the upper 40s. USA TODAY will provide updates on the runners and route throughout the day. Key details: - Broadcasts: WCVB Channel 5 in Boston and regional sister stations from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET; ESPN2 live for viewers outside the Northeast from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. - Start schedule: Wheelchair men 9:06 a.m. ET and wheelchair women 9:09 a.m. ET; professional men 9:37 a.m. ET and professional women 9:47 a.m. ET; waves begin at 10:00 a.m. ET and continue through 11:21 a.m. ET. - Course route: The route begins in Hopkinton and passes through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline before entering Boston and finishing on Boylston Street near the Boston Public Library. - Event scale and history: This is the 130th edition of the world’s oldest continuously run marathon, with roughly 30,000 participants expected. - Notable entrants and past winners: The Boston Athletic Association lists several notable participants including past champions; Sharon Lokedi and John Korir are the defending women's and men's winners, respectively. Summary: The marathon will determine winners across professional and mass fields and will be covered by live broadcasts and ongoing updates through the day. Final results and detailed course maps, including mile markers and elevation, are being published by event organizers and will be available after the race.