Dr Ian and Matthew complete the Manchester Marathon 2026
Greater Manchester comes alive as 42,000 runners take on record-breaking adidas Manchester Marathon
Manchester, Sunday 19 April 2026: Greater Manchester came alive today as 42,000 runners took to the streets for the largest-ever adidas Manchester Marathon, cheered on by more than 150,000 spectators in a feel-good celebration of movement and community.
The 2026 event kicked off a huge day of sport across Greater Manchester, with over 55,000 fans also heading to the Etihad Stadium for the crucial Manchester City v Arsenal Premier League match later in the day.
From elite athletes chasing the English Marathon Championships to complete first-timers, this year’s marathon showcased both achievement and resilience. Adding a playful twist to the day, some participants embraced the spirit of fun in eye-catching fancy dress – running as Batman and the Joker, a cheerful teddy bear, and even a bright pink stormtrooper – bringing smiles to the crowds along the route.
Alongside them were some familiar faces including health and fitness influencer Zoe Rae and stars from hit TV show The Traitors, such as Jake Brown, Jaz Singh and Kas Ahmed.
Starting first, the wheelchair athletes set the pace, with Callum Hall taking the men’s wheelchair title in 01:47:35. He takes home the trophy and £2,000, with the adidas Manchester Marathon offering prize money parity across each elite field. In the elite able-bodied races, Yohan Lidove stormed to victory in the men’s event with a time of 02:15:19, while Naomi Robinson delivered an outstanding performance to win the women’s race in 02:36:56, capping off a day of high-quality competition.
The event has already raised £4,549,349 for charity, supporting organisations including the Official Charity Partner’s Alzheimer’s Society, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and The Christie Charity, alongside the Manchester Marathon Community Fund, with the final total still continuing to grow.
Among the record-breaking field were participants of all ages and backgrounds, travelling from across the UK and beyond, helping generate an estimated £50 million boost for Greater Manchester’s economy – underlining the scale and significance of hosting one of Europe’s largest marathons. Finishers received a t-shirt featuring a special design by Manchester Metropolitan University student Faris Owynat, unless they opted into the Green Runner scheme, where a donation will be made to City of Trees instead.
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