Tokyo Marathon 2026: Start time, how to watch and the leading elite contenders

The 2026 Abbott World Marathon Majors series gets underway on Sunday March 1 with the Tokyo Marathon.

It’s the first of what is now seven-race schedule – but could soon be eight with the potential addition of Cape Town.

The elite races head a field of 38,000 in the Japanese capital over 26.2 miles from the Tokyo Metropolitan Building to the Tokyo Station.

As you’d expect it’s flat and the course records both came in 2024 through Kenya’s Benson Kipruto (2:02:16) and Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede (2:15:55).

They could be under threat this year thanks to stellar fields – and the return of both defending champions.

The weather looks ideal too – the forecast for Sunday is dry and bright with virtually no wind and a temperature of 11 degrees Celsius when it starts, rising to a high of 15 degrees at 3pm.

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Start time and how to watch live

It starts at 09:10 local time on Sunday March 1 which is 1910 Eastern and 1610 Western (both Saturday). In Europe that’s 00:10 in the UK and 01:10 CET.

In Japan the race will be broadcast on the Nippon Television Network but it will also be aired in over 160 countries via the likes of Eurosport, Canal+, Flo Sports and ESPN International.

History of the race

Known for its near-enough pancake flat course, the inaugural Tokyo Marathon took place in 2007. From the outset, Tokyo was a huge event. In that first year, over 77,000 runners applied for a spot on the start line – with 26,058 lucky participants actually getting to start the race.

In 2013, Tokyo became part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. It was the first new addition since the Majors were introduced in 2006, and the first Marathon Major in Asia. 2017 saw an update to the course – now finishing in the iconic Marunouchi central business district. The race also served as the Japanese Olympic trial for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Tokyo Marathon records

While the Tokyo Marathon is flat – and known for fast times – the current marathon world records weren’t set here.

The current Tokyo Marathon course record for men is held by Benson Kipruto, who ran a time of 2:02:16 in 2024. His finish time was 24 seconds faster than the previous record held by Eliud Kipchoge, who ran a 2:02:40 in 2022.

Sutume Kebede holds the women’s course record in Tokyo, with her finish time of 2:15:55 from that 2024 race. She beat the previous record of 2:16:02, set by Brigid Kosgei in 2021 (race was actually held in 2022 due to COVID), by seven seconds.

Men’s elite field

The standout names in the men’s field are defending champion Tadese Takele (ETH), 2025 New York runner-up Alex Mutiso (KEN) and 2024 Berlin winner Milkesa Mengesha (ETH).

Takele, who is just 23, won last year in impressive 2:03:23. That’s the fifth fastest time ever run in Tokyo and was 28 seconds ahead of his compatriot Deresa Geleta.

Mutiso has a marathon PB of 2:03:11 (from Valencia in 2023), won in London two years ago, was narrowly denied a second Major win in New York late last year when Benson Kipruto beat him in an incredible photo finish.

Mengesha is looking to add to his Berlin title and notched a recent victory in Shanghai at the end of last year.

Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat was runner up in that record-breaking 2024 edition here in 2:02:55 and is another potential contender while home hopes will be focussed on Suguru Osako, who set a new national record of 2:04:55 at the Valencia Marathon in December.

There’s huge prize money up for grabs too – the winners will each get $80,000, with a world record worth $200,000 and a Japan national record ¥500,000.

Women’s elite field

All eyes will be on Sutume Kebede in the women’s race.

The Ethiopian is bidding for a third successive win in Tokyo, something no one else has achieved.

After the course record in 2024, Kebede followed that up 12 months later and the form of that victory could hardly have worked out better.

Hawi Feysa (ETH) and Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) finished third and fifth respectively that day and went on to win Chicago and Berlin respectively. Both return to Tokyo on Sunday for what should be a fantastic race.

Also there is former world record holder Brigid Kosgei (KEN) who won here in 2022 and triumphed in the Shanghai Marathon in November.