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How To Watch the 2026 World Marathon Majors

Watch the world's best marathoners push their limits on TV as the newly expanded World Marathon Majors returns for its 2026 season.

The World Marathon Majors (WMM) remains the pinnacle of distance running, featuring a lineup of the most prestigious races on the planet. Following its debut as a Major in 2025, the TCS Sydney Marathon now officially stands as the seventh star in the series, joining the ranks of the Boston, London, Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City marathons.

If you’re eager to watch the World Marathon Majors on TV or online, you’re in luck. These high-profile marathon races have dedicated broadcasters in the U.S.

In this guide, I’ve broken down the essential channels for every race in the 2026 WMM TV schedule. Be sure to bookmark this page so you never miss a single stride of these prestigious world-class events.

What channels show marathon running?

While channels vary between races, ESPN, NBC Sports, and FloSports platforms show the most marathon coverage. Additionally, local ABC and NBC news stations typically air in-market races.

Beyond annual marathons, Peacock is a must-have service for special events like the World Athletics Road Running Championships and the Summer Olympics.

2026 World Marathon Majors TV schedule

The 2026 World Marathon Majors schedule officially kicked off in March with the Tokyo Marathon and ends on November 1 in New York City. While there are no World Athletics Championships this year, Beijing will host the next global showdown in September 2027.

Check out the TV schedule below to explore the different U.S. channels and viewing platforms covering the 2026 series. I’ll update the table as more broadcast info becomes available.

Race Day Time (ET) Channels
Tokyo Marathon Saturday, Feb. 28 7:00 p.m. FloSports
Boston Marathon Monday, April 20 9:00 a.m. ESPN2, WCVB-TV
London Marathon Sunday, April 26 3:45 a.m. FloSports
Sydney Marathon Sunday, Aug. 30 4:00 p.m. FloSports
Berlin Marathon Sunday, Sept. 27 3:00 a.m. FloSports
Chicago Marathon Sunday, Oct. 11 8:00 a.m. Peacock, WMAQ-TV, WSNS-TV
New York City Marathon Sunday, Nov. 1 8:00 a.m. ESPN2, ESPN3, WABC-TV

Data effective as of post date.

Best TV services for watching marathon running

The best TV service for watching marathon running depends on what races you want to see.

To follow this year’s World Marathon Majors, you’ll need Peacock, FloSports, and any TV provider with ESPN channels. I recommend Hulu + Live TV because it includes ESPN+, which offers extensive coverage of college track and field.

Peacock Premium

$10.99–$16.99/mo.

  • Live coverage of all Olympic events
  • World Athletics and USATF coverage
  • 24/7 news channels, incl. NBC Chicago News
  • Live local NBC access w/ Peacock Premium Plus

View Plans for Peacock

Read Peacock review

Hulu + Live TV

$88.99–$99.99/mo.

  • Every ESPN channel, incl. ESPN+
  • College conference networks for NCAA coverage
  • Live local channels
  • Unlimited cloud DVR

View Plans for Hulu

Read Hulu + Live TV review

FloSports

Starting at $19.99/mo.

  • Tokyo, London, and Berlin marathons
  • Add’l. World Athletics Label marathon races
  • Complete Diamond League coverage
  • Race replays, original series, and FloTrack training videos

View Plans

The three services above are costly in the long run (pun intended). So, before subscribing, you’ll want to decide which events matter most to you.

Ultimately, I prioritize Peacock because of its inexpensive plans and premier endurance racing coverage—including the Summer Olympics and World Athletics Championships.

How to watch marathon running online for free

Many of the most popular U.S. marathon races stream on local news websites and social media platforms. For instance, last year’s ​​TCS New York City Marathon streamed live on ABC7NY.com, while the Bank of America Chicago Marathon was on NBCChicago.com.

Pro tip: If you’re scrambling for broadcast details on race day, try searching for the race on YouTube.

Watch marathon races over the air!

If you’re near a major marathon course, you can often tune in with a digital antenna for live local coverage. The Boston, Chicago, and New York marathons all air on local TV, as does the non-WMM Houston Marathon.

How to watch marathon running FAQ

How can I watch the Road Running Championships?

Peacock streamed the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships for U.S.-based viewers in 2023. The last edition happened in September 2026, when Copenhagen hosted the marathon, half-marathon, 5K, and one-mile championships.

Where can I watch track and field online?

Most professional track and field competitions air on NBC and Peacock, while many high school, collegiate, and amateur events stream on FloSports. Additional collegiate competitions air on ESPN platforms.

How can I watch the Olympic marathon?

USA Network aired the men's and women's Olympic marathons in 2024, but both events also streamed on Peacock. The streaming service also carried the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in early February 2024.

Why you should trust us

Our CableTV.com Sports Editor, Taylor Kujawa, researched this year’s World Marathon Majors TV schedule, compiling each race’s start times and U.S. channel listings. Taylor then compared these viewing options across major TV providers and streaming services to find the best ways to tune in, evaluating each based on pricing, athletics coverage, and ease of use.

Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.

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