London Marathon Expo 2026: Everything You Need to Know About the TCS London Marathon Running Show at ExCeL

London, 23 April 2026 – NEWSAxis.UK – The TCS London Marathon Running Show 2026 has opened its doors at ExCeL London, and the energy inside the vast Royal Victoria Dock venue is nothing short of electric. With a record-breaking 1,133,813 people having entered the ballot for this year’s race, the four-day expo has become far more than a simple packet collection point. It is, without question, the beating heart of one of the world’s greatest sporting weekends — and if you have not yet made your way down to east London, this is your essential guide to making the very most of it.

What Is the TCS London Marathon Running Show and Why Does It Matter?

Picture this: tens of thousands of runners filing through a sprawling exhibition hall, eyes wide, nerves jangling, adrenaline already beginning to rise. That is the scene at ExCeL London right now, and it has been playing out every year in the days before the London Marathon since the event grew into the global phenomenon it is today.

The Running Show is the official expo of the TCS London Marathon, serving as the mandatory collection point for every runner’s Event Pack. Inside that pack sits the most important piece of paper a marathon runner will ever hold: the race bib. No bib, no race. It is as simple as that. Organisers are unambiguous on this point — Event Packs cannot be collected on race day under any circumstances, and there are no exceptions whatsoever.

But to describe the Running Show merely as a collection depot would be to sell it spectacularly short. The TCS London Marathon Running Show is more than an exhibition — it is the official start line of marathon weekend and a must-visit event for anyone passionate about running.

When and Where: Opening Times and Getting There

The show runs across four days this week at ExCeL London, located at Royal Victoria Dock in east London. Opening dates and times are as follows: Wednesday 22nd April from 10.00am to 8.00pm, Thursday 23rd April from 10.00am to 8.00pm, Friday 24th April from 9.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday 25th April from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Seasoned expo veterans will tell you the same thing every single year: come early in the week and come early in the day. Wednesday and Thursday are considerably quieter than the frantic scenes that unfold on Friday and Saturday. Wednesday and Thursday are considerably quieter than Friday and Saturday; runners who have flexibility should attend early in the week to avoid queues. Saturday is the final opportunity to collect, and organisers urge runners arriving that day to allow ample time, because the queues can stretch considerably.

Getting to ExCeL London this year requires a little extra planning. There is planned industrial action on the London Underground between Tuesday 21 and Friday 24 April, so organisers recommend travelling to the Excel London via the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Elizabeth line, London Overground, National Rail Services, buses or River Services, which are running as normal. London Underground services are scheduled to be disrupted with limited services on the mornings of Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 April, and the evening of Thursday 23 April. The TfL Journey Planner is your friend this week.

The nearest station to ExCeL London is Custom House, conveniently served by both the Docklands Light Railway and the Elizabeth line. Cyclists are also welcome at the venue, though bikes are not permitted inside the show halls themselves and must be left at the dedicated storage points outside.

Collecting Your Event Pack: The Essential Process

For the 50,000 or so runners lining up in Greenwich and Blackheath on Sunday morning, collecting the Event Pack is the single most important task of the week. You will need to collect your Event Pack and New Balance T-shirt (if you opted to receive one) from the TCS London Marathon Running Show at Excel London from Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 April. You will receive a unique QR code to collect these items, which is also available in the 2026 TCS London Marathon App, under ‘My Marathon’ in the ‘Event Pass’ section.

Inside the Event Pack, runners will find their bib number, their timing chip, and the official kit bag used for bag drop on race day. If collecting on behalf of another runner, bring a signed authorisation letter and a copy of their ID. Those who genuinely cannot attend in person should consult the official participant guide, which details the proxy collection process in full.

One important note: you will not be able to take part in the TCS London Marathon if you do not collect your Event Pack, as it contains your all-important bib number. You will not be able to collect this on Event Day. Runners experiencing any difficulty with their collection should head to the help desk inside the venue, where staff are on hand to resolve issues.

The Centre Stage: World Class Athletes and Expert Advice

Step beyond the bib collection area and the Running Show transforms into something altogether more inspiring. The Centre Stage programme offers last-minute tips on perfecting your pacing strategy and nailing your nutrition plan, with appearances from world class athletes including Marcel Hug, Eilish McColgan, Hellen Obiri, Mahamed Mahamed and Patrick Dever.

These are not hollow celebrity appearances. Marcel Hug, the legendary Swiss wheelchair racer known across the sport as the “Silver Bullet”, brings a competitive intelligence that few in endurance sport can match. Eilish McColgan, one of Britain’s most beloved long-distance runners, speaks with the warmth and candour that has made her such a compelling public figure. Ethiopian superstar Hellen Obiri and British distance runners Mahamed Mahamed and Patrick Dever round out a lineup that would draw crowds at any athletics event in the country.

For first-time marathoners in particular, the Centre Stage sessions are invaluable. Hearing directly from elite competitors about how they approach race morning, manage their pace through the notorious Mile 20 wall, and fuel across 26.2 miles of London streets is the kind of insight that no training plan can fully replicate. Grab a seat early, because these talks fill up quickly.

Over 100 Exhibitors: The UK’s Largest Running Expo

Beyond bib collection, the event functions as the UK’s largest dedicated running expo, with over one hundred exhibitors, product launches, and a programme of guest speakers. Over four action-packed days, your brand will meet 170,000 passionate runners from every background and ability level.

Walking the exhibition floor is an experience in itself. Global sports brands line up alongside specialist nutrition companies, innovative tech startups, charitable organisations, and local running clubs. Runners can browse the very latest footwear from major manufacturers, test out GPS watches and performance wearables, stock up on gels and energy products, and pick up race-day essentials that they may have forgotten to pack.

The Charity Hub offers the chance to meet the incredible teams behind the causes that drive thousands of runners. Given that the London Marathon is one of the single biggest annual fundraising events on the planet, the Charity Hub is a genuinely moving corner of the show — a reminder that for a great many of the runners toeing the line on Sunday, the miles being run carry a meaning far deeper than personal achievement.

A Thoughtful Gesture: Preloved Tops and the Salvation Army

One of the quieter stories of this year’s Running Show is a small but meaningful initiative at stand A112. Preloved Sports CIC will be selling long-sleeve tops for just £2.50, with 1,000 available, so early arrival is advised. Runners can then donate the top near the Start Line, where it will be collected by the Salvation Army for reuse, resale, or reprocessing.

It is a simple idea that speaks to one of the lesser-discussed aspects of marathon culture. Thousands of runners arrive at the start line in warm-up layers they intend to discard before the gun fires. By formalising that process through a charity partnership, the London Marathon is taking a modest but worthwhile step towards reducing textile waste whilst ensuring that discarded clothing finds a second life rather than heading to landfill.

Personalised Race Bibs: A Memento Worth Having

For those who want their race day experience to carry a personal touch, the Running Show offers a popular add-on that many runners swear by. For £14, runners who pre-ordered can collect personalised name printing at the 2026 TCS London Marathon Running Show.

Anyone who has ever run a big city marathon will understand immediately why this matters. When your name is printed across your bib in bold letters, strangers on the roadside call it out. The crowd roars your name through Canary Wharf. A child you have never met shouts encouragement as you push through the Embankment. It is a small thing that makes a very large difference on the day, and it costs less than a round of drinks.

Inclusive Facilities for All Visitors

The organisers have taken care to ensure that the Running Show is a welcoming space for every visitor. A prayer room is located by the S9 entrance and a breastfeeding room is available inside the Show Halls at stand A99. These provisions reflect the remarkable diversity of the London Marathon’s participant community — a community that spans more than 100 nationalities and every conceivable walk of life.

The Bigger Picture: A Record-Breaking Edition of a Historic Race

It is worth pausing for a moment to consider the scale of what this Running Show represents. On Sunday 26 April 2026, the athletic world’s focus will shift to the British capital for the 46th TCS London Marathon. Thousands of runners will gather at the starting line in Blackheath. The historic 26.2-mile route, which culminates at The Mall, will take runners past some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace.

A record 1,133,813 people entered the ballot for the 2026 edition, a figure that underlines both the scale of demand and the difficulty of securing a place. The vast majority of those 1.1 million people will be watching from afar on Sunday. The runners inside ExCeL London this week are among the extraordinarily fortunate few who get to actually run it.

The TCS London Marathon Running Show, then, is where the dream crystallises into reality. It is where the months of early mornings and long weekend runs, the aching legs and the sacrificed social plans, all begin to feel worth it. The moment a runner holds that bib in their hands, something shifts. The race is no longer a future event. It is happening. It is now.

Practical Summary for Runners Still to Attend

If you are a registered runner who has not yet collected your Event Pack, here is what you need to know before heading to ExCeL London.

Attend on Wednesday or Thursday if at all possible — the queues are considerably shorter and the experience is far more enjoyable. Friday gets busy as the working week ends and runners arrive from across the country. Saturday, the final day, is the most congested of all, and anyone attending should arrive well before the 5.30pm closing time.

Bring your QR code, available via the confirmation email sent by the organisers or through the 2026 TCS London Marathon App under the Event Pass section. Photo identification is recommended. If you are collecting on behalf of a fellow runner, carry a signed authorisation letter and a copy of their identification document.

Plan your journey using the TfL Journey Planner and account for the Underground disruption this week. The DLR and Elizabeth line to Custom House remain the most reliable options, and both are running as normal.

Once inside, give yourself time to explore. Visit the Centre Stage. Browse the exhibitors. Take in the atmosphere. Buy that £2.50 top for the Salvation Army. Speak to someone from a charity whose work moves you. Have your photograph taken with your bib. Soak it all in.

Sunday is coming. The streets of London are waiting. And it all begins right here, at the TCS London Marathon Running Show 2026.

The TCS London Marathon Running Show 2026 continues until Saturday 25 April at ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL. The 46th TCS London Marathon takes place on Sunday 26 April 2026. For full details and participant information, visit londonmarathonevents.co.uk.