Sport Other Sport London Marathon Need to know London Marathon prize money – how much does the winner get? The 2026 London Marathon is about to begin - with competitors looking to win their share of a record prize pot Comments Sport Harry Brent 09:00, 26 Apr 2026 This year's London Marathon has a gigantic prize pot (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Everything you need to know about the London Marathon prize money: Equal prize money: In a landmark move for global sport, the London Marathon maintains absolute parity in prize money across its elite races. The winners of the Elite Men's, Elite Women's, Wheelchair Men's and Wheelchair Women's races all receive the exact same payout. The top prize: Each of the four winners in the elite categories will take home approximately £41,000. This flat-rate prize ensures that wheelchair athletes are rewarded at the same level as the able-bodied champions, a world-first initiative that began in 2024. Deep payouts: The financial rewards aren't just for the winners. In the able-bodied elite races, prize money is typically awarded down to 10th place, with £22,200 for 2nd and £16,000 for 3rd. In the wheelchair races, the payouts extend down to the 12th-place finisher to encourage deep competition in the field. Course record bonuses: Athletes have a massive incentive to push the pace. Any runner who breaks the London Marathon course record will receive a £18,500 bonus. For the elite men, that means beating Kelvin Kiptum's 2:01:25, while the women are chasing the 2:16:16 mark for a women-only race. Time bonuses: There are further "performance bonuses" for athletes who hit specific time targets, even if they don't win. For example, sub-2:05 for men or sub-2:18 for women can trigger additional payments, ensuring the race remains the fastest on the circuit. World record windfall: If an athlete produces a truly historic performance and breaks the world record on the London streets, they are eligible for a staggering £92,500 bonus. Any man who runs a sub-2:02 will bank a whopping £111,000 bonus, as will any woman who logs a sub-2:15 run. British athlete incentives: A separate prize pot is reserved exclusively for the top-performing British athletes. The first British man and woman across the line receive a dedicated bonus, helping to support domestic talent alongside the international superstars. Total prize fund: The total prize pot for the 2026 elite races exceeds £444,000. When combined with the millions raised for charity by the 50,000+ mass-participation runners, the event remains one of the most financially significant days in the global sporting calendar. READ MORE: London tube strikes: Marathon travel tips ahead of Sunday's big race Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £44 Sky Get the deal here Product Description Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL. Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf. Follow walesonline: X (Twitter) Instagram Comments
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