The 2026 Boston Marathon takes place on Monday, April 20, bringing a full day of action across Massachusetts with live television coverage, streaming options, mobile alerts and runner-tracking tools available from early morning through the evening. For viewers planning their race-day schedule, the key timings are already set: WCVB’s coverage begins at 4 a.m., the professional race broadcast starts at 9 a.m., and programming continues throughout the day before closing with a special edition of Chronicle at 7:30 p.m.
That makes this year’s race one of the easiest Boston Marathons to follow whether you are standing along the course, checking splits from work, or watching from home on a connected device. Fans can watch live on WCVB Channel 5, stream race coverage online, and follow individual runners through the official Boston Athletic Association app. More event details are also available through the Boston Athletic Association.
Where to watch the 2026 Boston Marathon live
Race-day coverage on WCVB Channel 5 begins at 4 a.m. Monday. The station’s live broadcast of the professional races starts at 9 a.m., with all-day programming built around one of the most watched events on the Boston sports calendar.
For viewers using a computer, phone or tablet, coverage will also be available through WCVB.com and the WCVB app. That gives fans multiple ways to stay connected throughout the day, especially during key moments as elite runners approach the finish and amateur runners continue through later sections of the course.
Those using smart TVs or streaming devices can also watch through Very Local, which will carry WCVB’s coverage throughout the day. The app is available on a range of devices including smart TVs, tablets, phones, Roku and Fire TV.
Race-day viewing at a glance:
TV coverage begins: 4 a.m. Monday
Professional race broadcast begins: 9 a.m.
Coverage ends: Special edition of Chronicle at 7:30 p.m.
Streaming options: WCVB.com, WCVB app, Very Local
Runner tracking: Boston Athletic Association app
How to get live updates and track runners during the race
For people who want updates on the move, the WCVB app offers alerts with real-time race coverage and results throughout the day. That can be especially useful for spectators jumping between course locations or following finish-line developments without keeping a live stream open the entire time.
Runner-specific tracking is also available through the Boston Athletic Association’s app, which remains one of the most useful tools for families, friends and supporters trying to monitor an individual athlete’s progress. On a day when tens of thousands of runners spread out across the course, that tracking option often becomes just as important as the live television feed.
Social platforms will also play a major role in race-day coverage. WCVB said viewers can follow updates on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, and X throughout the event.
The race-day experience is not only about watching the leaders. Boston Marathon coverage tends to stretch across the full field, and later-day updates become especially important as recreational runners, charity teams and first-time qualifiers move deeper into the race. That broader interest is one reason live alerts and tracking tools now matter almost as much as traditional TV coverage.
Course support, drop-out help and closure details runners should know
The course setup for 2026 includes support systems aimed at keeping runners informed well beyond the starting line. Runners who cannot finish the race can stop for assistance and direction at one of the 26 medical stations placed along the route. Sweep buses are set to pick up runners at every medical station and bring them to the Finish Area medical tent.
Aid stations will close at staggered times during the day, and finish-area facilities are expected to officially close at approximately 5:30 p.m. That timing matters for runners deeper in the field, especially those monitoring pace against official reopening windows.
Officials said runners still on the course when roads begin reopening, which is based on an approximate pace of 13:44 per mile, will be instructed to move to the right side of the road. Once that process begins, course infrastructure such as timing systems, course clocks, medical stations and water stations will start shutting down and cease operation.
That means runners continuing after the official reopening point may effectively be on their own, without the full support system available earlier in the day. The B.A.A. will have cyclists at the back of the pack to assist runners at or slower than the 13:44-minute-per-mile pace, but the late-race experience changes once roads reopen to regular traffic.
For spectators and families, that course-closure timing is also useful because it gives a better sense of how long tracking and official support services are expected to remain active.
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