LA Marathon: 10 things to know about the Los Angeles Marathon weekend

The 2026 Los Angeles Marathon finds more than 27,000 participants who signed up to tackle the streets of Los Angeles this weekend for the 41st LA Marathon, a race that winds from Dodger Stadium to Century City. The LA Marathon sold out on Jan. 5, 2026.

The 2026 Asics Los Angeles Marathon weekend also includes the LA 5K (March 7) and the LA Charity Half Marathon (March 8). More than 36,000 people registered in total for these three events – including the marathon itself.

Whether you are running, spectating, or just trying to avoid road closures, here are the 10 key things to know about this year’s race.

Race day and start time

The LA Marathon kicks off early in the morning on Sunday, March 8, at Dodger Stadium, and winds through the city before finishing up around 9:15 a.m. on the Avenue of the Stars in Century City.

The first group to start are the professional elite wheelchair and push rim para athletes (6:30 a.m.), followed by handcycles/handcrank athletes (6:32 a.m.), and next, all other para athletes (6:33 a.m.).

At 6:40 a.m., the pro women and elite age group women have their start. The pro men and the full field marathon begin at 7 a.m.

Who’s hitting the pavement?

The Los Angeles Marathon presented by Asics isn’t just a race — it’s one of the four largest marathons in the U.S. and ranks among the top 10 globally.

This year, more than 27,000 runners from all 50 states and D.C., and more than 63 countries will take on the 26.2-mile challenge. Among them are 86 legacy runners, a dedicated group of men and women who have completed every LA Marathon since its debut in 1986.

Runners range in age from 12 to 87 this year, and 79% fall in Millennial or Generation Z year-born groups. Nearly 41% (a little more than 9,100) indicated that they are running their very first marathon at the LA Marathon. In addition, 6,468 indicated that they have run 2 or more Los Angeles Marathons.

In 2026, there are 3,472 student runners from the Students Run LA program.

The route is a mini tour of landmarks and neighborhoods

Runners start the marathon at Dodger Stadium, home of the LA Dodgers, in Elysian Park. Then, along the way they experience (or see in the distance) Chinatown, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument (aka Olvera Street), Los Angeles City Hall, Little Tokyo, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Music Center of Los Angeles County, the Pantages Theatre, the Dolby Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, parts of Historic Route 66 in West Hollywood, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Westwood, Brentwood, and the finish line in Century City.

Also, marathoners enjoy the more than 100 entertainment and “cheer” zones at various mile-markers: mccourtfoundation.org/event/los-angeles-marathon/la-course-entertainment/

Major road closures will disrupt traffic

Expect significant street closures along the 26.2-mile route from Dodger Stadium to Century City, with some side streets in Elysian Park, Downtown L.A., Echo Park, Silver Lake, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Los Angeles also affected.

See the side streets for “Local Access Only” here: mccourtfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Additional-Street-Closures-2026.pdf

“No Parking” signs will be posted 72 hours in advance and vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed.

While no freeways will be closed, some on-ramps and off-ramps will be temporarily blocked.

Road closures begin as early as 3 a.m. in some areas, with streets reopening in phases from late morning to early afternoon, depending on their location along the route.

Some areas in Century City, home to the finish line and festival zone, will see closures starting Saturday, March 7, at 8 a.m., lasting until Sunday, March 8, at 8 p.m.

For exact closure times and detour info, check the official road closure map: https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/event/los-angeles-marathon/road-closures/

Defending their 2025 LA Marathon titles 

These runners are ready for a repeat win in 2026.

Elite Female

Tejinesh Tulu (Ethiopia) – Her time in 2025: 2:30:16

Elite Male

Matthew Richtman (USA) – His time in 2025: 2:07:56

More than 800,000 runners and counting

What started as an ambitious post-Olympic vision after the success of the 1984 Los Angeles Games became a reality when the Los Angeles City Council opened bids for a city marathon in 1985. Since then, more than 800,000 runners have logged more than 20 million miles through LA’s streets.

The inaugural event in 1986 set a U.S. record as the largest first-time marathon, with 10,787 registrants lacing up for the challenge. Since then, the race has evolved, changing ownership five times and solidifying its place as one of the nation’s premier marathons.

What do winners get

The first-place male and female finishers each take home $25,000. In addition, the “Marathon Chase Bonus,” adds an extra $10,000 to the first runner—male or female—to cross the finish line.

Running for a cause

The L.A. Marathon isn’t just about competition — it’s also a powerful force for good. Each year, runners help raise millions for charity.

In 2026, more than 1,600 charity runners representing more than 125 official charities are expected to raise more than $4 million across the 5K, half-marathon, and marathon events. This year’s official charity partners: mccourtfoundation.org/event/los-angeles-marathon/run-for-charity/

The McCourt Foundation, which organizes the marathon, has more than 650 runners in its Team TMF who have raised money for the foundation.

More than a marathon

Marathon weekend offers more than just the big race. These events take place at Dodger Stadium.

Lifestyle Expo (March 6-7) – A free event with race packet pickup for marathon participants (required in advance on either date) and also fun for family and friends of the runner and the public to see fitness gear, exhibits, purchase souvenirs and photo opportunities.

LA 5K (March 7) – This event is good for families, runners and walkers of all ages. The 2026 LA 5K begins at 8 a.m.

LA Kids Run (March 7) – A short-distance race for ages 3-8 to get in on the action. The 2026 LA Kids run has 450 children registered to run at 9:45 a.m.

LA Charity Half Marathon (March 8) – This special event begins at 8:15 a.m. More than 1,000 are running for a cause, and 350 of them are with Team TMF.

How to watch

If you can’t go to the LA Marathon in person, you can watch the race from home. Live coverage will be available on TV and multiple streaming platforms, including the marathon’s Facebook page, so you won’t miss a mile.

For full details on where to watch, visit the official mccourtfoundation.org/event/los-angeles-marathon/race-weekend-overview/