Boston Marathon forecast, start times, elite lists and where to watch

The 2026 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, is forecasted to be chilly and breezy, with temperatures in the mid-30s to upper-40s°F (0 °C to 10 °C) and mostly dry conditions. A cold front will bring stiff 10–25 mph (16 to 40 KPH) northwesterly winds, potentially making it one of the coldest Boston Marathons on record.

Key 2026 Race Day Conditions (April 20):
Start Line (Hopkinton): Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 20s to mid-30s°F, feeling closer to 37°F (
) in some areas.

Finish Line (Boston): Temperatures will rise to the mid-40s to low 50s°F by the afternoon.

Wind: Winds will be a significant factor, blowing at 10-25 mph, which could create a brisk crosswind/tailwind for runners.

Conditions: Mostly dry with partly sunny skies, although some, particularly those waiting to start, will experience very chilly conditions. Rain may begin at the end of the marathon for those who are in the final wave start. It will be a rainy afternoon and evening.

Runner and spectator tips:

For Runners: The cool, dry weather is beneficial for running fast times, though the wind will be strong. There may be a tailwind most of the way, therefore assisting.

For Spectators: It will feel quite cold, especially with the wind; warm, layered clothing is advised.

Start times:

The 2026 Boston Marathon (130th running) starts in Hopkinton on April 20th, with wheelchair divisions beginning at 9:06 a.m. ET, followed by professional athletes at 9:37 a.m. Open division runners begin in six staggered waves from 10:00 a.m. to 11:21 a.m.

2026 Boston Marathon Start Times (ET)
9:06 a.m.: Men’s Wheelchair
9:09 a.m.: Women’s Wheelchair
9:30 a.m.: Handcycles & Duos
9:37 a.m.: Professional Men
9:47 a.m.: Professional Women
9:50 a.m.: Para Athletics Division
10:00 a.m.: Wave 1
10:15 a.m.: Wave 2
10:28 a.m.: Wave 3
10:41 a.m.: Wave 4
11:01 a.m.: Wave 5
11:21 a.m.: Wave 6

Elite lists

Men’s Field

• Benson Kipruto (KEN) — 2:02:16 (Tokyo, 2024)
• John Korir (KEN) — 2:02:24 (Valencia, 2025)
• Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) — 2:03:17 (Berlin, 2024)
• Cybrian Kotut (KEN) — 2:03:22 (Berlin, 2024)
• Abdi Nageeye (NED) — 2:04:20 (London, 2025)
• Lemi Berhanu (ETH) — 2:04:33 (Dubai, 2016)
• Hailemaryam Kiros (ETH) — 2:04:35 (Sydney, 2025) CR
• Alex Masai (KEN) — 2:04:37 (Chicago, 2025)
• Alphonce Felix Simbu (TAN) — 2:04:38 (Valencia, 2024)
• Mohamed Esa (ETH) — 2:04:39 (Chicago, 2024)
• Benard Biwott (KEN) — 2:05:25 (Paris, 2025)
• Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) — 2:05:27 (Rotterdam, 2025)
• Zouhair Talbi (MAR/USA) — 2:05:45 (Houston, 2026)
• Richard Ringer (GER) — 2:05:46 (Valencia, 2024)
• Sondre Nordstad Moen (NOR) — 2:05:48 (Fukuoka, 2017) NR
• Galen Rupp (USA) — 2:06:07 (Prague, 2018)
• Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) — 2:06:18 (Xiamen) NR
• Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) — 2:06:45 (Valencia, 2025)
• Rory Linkletter (CAN) — 2:06:49 (Chicago, 2025)
• Clayton Young (USA) — 2:07:04 (Boston, 2025)
• Tsegay Weldlibanos (ERI) — 2:07:35 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Patrick Tiernan (AUS) — 2:07:45 (Houston, 2024)
• Ryan Ford (USA) — 2:08:00 (Boston, 2025)
• CJ Albertson (USA) — 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024)
• Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) — 2:08:25 (Houston, 2025)
• Alex Maier (USA) — 2:08:33 (Dusseldorf, 2025)
• Amaury Paquet (BEL) — 2:08:44 (Valencia, 2023)
• Sam Chelanga* (USA) — 2:08:50 (Chicago, 2023)
• Ser-od Bat-Ochir* (MGL) — 2:08:50 (Fukuoka, 2014)
• Daniel Mesfun (USA) — 2:08:51 (Dublin, 2025)
• Wesley Kiptoo (USA) — 2:08:54 (Boston, 2025)
• Ben Preisner (CAN) — 2:08:58 (Oita, 2024)
• Segundo Jami (ECU) — 2:09:05 (Valencia, 2023) NR
• Turner Wiley (USA) — 2:09:27 (Chandler, 2025)
• Colin Bennie (USA) — 2:09:38 (Chandler, 2020)
• Charles Hicks (USA/GBR) — 2:09:59 (NYC, 2025)
• Tiidrek Nurme (EST) — 2:10:02 (Sevilla, 2020)
• Nick Hauger (USA) — 2:10:18 (Chandler, 2025)
• Joe Klecker (USA) — 2:10:37 (NYC, 2025)
• Chris Maxon (USA) — 2:10:55 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Juan Luis Barrios* (MEX) — 2:10:55 (Tokyo, 2018)
• Jacob Thomson (USA) — 2:10:56 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Thijs Nijhuis (DEN) — 2:10:57 (Seville, 2020)
• Barry Keane (IRL) — 2:11:31 (Chandler, 2025)
• Jason Weitzel (USA) — 2:11:45 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Murphy Smith (USA) — 2:11:59 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Charlie Sweeney (USA) — 2:12:00 (Boston, 2025)
• Robert Miranda (USA) — 2:12:07 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Riley Nedrow (USA) — 2:12:47 (Tucson, 2024)
• Matias Silva (CHI) — 2:12:48 (Seville, 2025)
• Ryan Johnson (USA) — 2:12:58 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Martin Olesen (DEN) — 2:13:17 (Valencia, 2025)
• Ben Olson (USA) — 2:13:25 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Ryan Eiler (USA) — 2:13:36 (NYC, 2024)
• Primoz Kobe* (SLO) — 2:13:36 (Siena, 2021)
• Jack Mastandrea (USA) — 2:14:02 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Jonathan Phillips (USA) — 2:14:11 (Duluth, 2022)
• Lars Dewall (USA) — 2:14:20 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Garret Lee (USA) — 2:14:28 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Esteban Trujillo* (USA) — 2:14:32 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Dominic Arce (USA) — 2:14:32 (Vancouver, 2025)
• Kristoffer Mugrage (USA) — 2:15:01 (Chandler, 2025)
• Edward Mulder (USA) — 2:15:07 (Berlin, 2025)
• Michael Ottesen (USA) — 2:15:21 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Charlie Lawrence (USA) — 2:16:10 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
• Prescott Leach* (USA) — 2:17:29 (Sacramento, 2023)
• Karabo L Koenaite Sr.* (RSA) — 2:18:03 (Cape Gate Vaal)
• Meng-Tsung S Chu* (TPE) — 2:19:36 (Berlin, 2024)
• Aaron Metler* (USA) — 2:19:48 (St. George, 2025)
• Petter Engdahl (SWE) — Debut
• Nicholas Kipkorir (KEN) — Debut

Women’s Field

• Sharon Lokedi (KEN) — 2:17:22 (Boston, 2025) CR
• Irine Cheptai (KEN) — 2:17:51 (Chicago, 2024)
• Workenesh Edesa (ETH) — 2:17:55 (Hamburg, 2025)
• Loice Chemnung (KEN) — 2:18:24 (Chicago, 2025)
• Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) — 2:18:27 (Dubai, 2025)
• Emily Sisson (USA) — 2:18:29 (Chicago, 2022) AR/NR
• Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) — 2:19:26 (Chicago, 2025)
• Sara Hall* (USA) — 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)
• Calli Hauger-Thackery (GBR) — 2:21:24 (Berlin, 2024)
• Fikrte Wereta (ETH) — 2:21:32 (Seoul, 2024)
• Susanna Sullivan (USA) — 2:21:56 (Chicago, 2024)
• Fiona O’Keeffe (USA) — 2:22:10 (Orlando, 2024)
• Mao Uesugi (JPN) — 2:22:11 (Nagoya, 2025)
• Jess McClain (USA) — 2:22:43 (Boston, 2025)
• Erika Kemp (USA) — 2:22:56 (Houston, 2025)
• Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) — 2:22:59 (Valencia, 2024)
• Lisa Weightman* (AUS) — 2:23:15 (Osaka, 2023)
• Annie Frisbie (USA) — 2:23:21 (Boston, 2025)
• Mercy Chelangat (KEN) — 2:23:33 (Ottawa, 2025)
• Dakotah Popehn (USA) — 2:24:20 (Chicago, 2025)
• Amanda Vestri (USA) — 2:25:40 (NYC, 2025)
• Paige Wood (USA) — 2:26:02 (Sacramento, 2022)
• Stephanie Bruce (USA) — 2:27:47 (Chicago, 2019)
• Madey Dickson (USA) — 2:28:57 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Zaida Ramos (PER) — 2:29:49 (Seville, 2024)
• Elena Hayday (USA) — 2:30:51 (Duluth, 2023)
• Carrie Ellwood (USA) — 2:31:51 (Chicago, 2021)
• Diana Bogantes (CRI) — 2:32:08 (Valencia) NR
• Monica Hebner (USA) — 2:32:40 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Katie Florio (USA) — 2:32:44 (Philadelphia, 2024)
• Katie Kellner (USA) — 2:32:48 (Berlin, 2023)
• Breanna Sieracki (USA) — 2:32:53 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Carolyn Buchanan (CAN) — 2:32:54 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Marybeth Chelanga (USA) — 2:33:33 (Orlando, 2024)
• Elizabeth Chikotas (USA) — 2:33:57 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Ava Crean (IRL) — 2:34:12 (Dublin, 2025)
• Marte Maehlum-Johansen (NOR) — 2:34:54 (Hamburg, 2025)
• Megan O’Neil (USA) — 2:34:55 (Duluth, 2024)
• Maria Lindberg* (USA) — 2:34:59 (Chicago, 2025)
• Felicia Pasadyn (USA) — 2:35:17 (NYC, 2025)
• Julia Vasquez (USA) — 2:35:58 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Madeline Block (USA) — 2:36:28 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Alana Levy (USA) — 2:36:53 (Chicago, 2025)
• Isabel Tortorella (USA) — 2:37:07 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Caitlin McGinley (USA) — 2:37:12 (Lowell, 2025)
• Erin Del Giudice (USA) — 2:37:36 (Duluth, 2025)
• Teagan Robertson (CAN) — 2:37:51 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Cara Udvadia (USA) — 2:38:25 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Emilee Risteen (USA) — 2:38:46 (Duluth, 2023)
• Elizabeth Reichert (USA) — 2:38:49 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Marissa Lenger (USA) — 2:38:51 (Valley Cottage, 2023)
• Cassandra de Winter (CAN) — 2:39:52 (Victoria, 2025)
• Hannah Olde Loohuis (NED) — 2:40:39 (Amsterdam, 2025)
• Leanne Klassen (CAN) — 2:40:56 (Houston, 2025)
• Karen Bertasso* (USA) — 2:41:15 (Sacramento, 2025)
• Polly Cunes* (CAN) — 2:41:27 (Chicago, 2025)
• Marije Geurtsen* (NED) — 2:42:45 (Berlin, 2019)

How to watch

Watch live on WCVB Channel 5 (local) or ESPN2 (national) starting at 9:00 a.m. EDT, with streaming on ESPN+ and the Very Local app. International viewers can watch via networks like Eurosport or FloSports, while in-person viewing is available along the 26.2-mile (42.195km) course from Hopkinton to Boston.

How to Watch on TV & Streaming
National TV (US): ESPN2 will carry the race live from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT.
Local TV (New England): WCVB Channel 5 (ABC) offers local coverage starting at 4 a.m. EDT.
Streaming:
ESPN+ will live stream coverage from 4:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT.
The Very Local app provides free coverage, available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.
WCVB.com will feature a live stream.

International Coverage
UK: TNT Sports and HBO Max will provide coverage.
Global: Options include Eurosport, FloSports, TSN (Canada), and [ESPN Latin America/Brazil]