Boston Marathon
Tens of thousands of athletes. Countless emotions. One iconic course.
April 20, 2026 | 5:38 PM
2 minutes to read
The road from Hopkinton to Boylston Street is paved with sweat, tears, agony, and joy, as 2026 Boston Marathon athletes know all too well.
Photos from Monday’s race capture the Boston Marathon in all its glory, from the perseverance on Heartbreak Hill to the emotional catharsis at the finish line.
Tens of thousands of athletes. Countless emotions. One iconic course. Here are 26 of the best photos from the 2026 Boston Marathon.
Caleb Dayley kisses his fiancée, Lainglee Dayley, after finishing his first Boston Marathon. – Erin Clark/Boston Globe Staff Men’s wheelchair champion Marcel Hug gets his helmet ready at the start in Hopkinton. – David L Ryan/Boston Globe StaffCamilo Cubillos of Colombia at the finish line. – Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty ImagesThis girl on West Central Street in Natick offered professional male athletes orange slices. – Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe StaffConrad Davis and Joseph Chase partake in alcoholic beverages atop Heartbreak Hill. – Finn Gomez for The Boston GlobeA runner lays on the ground after crossing the finish line. – Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty ImagesKenyan runner John Korir poses cheekily with the trophy after finishing in first place in the men’s division. – Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty ImagesRunners arrive at the Athletes’ Village. – Craig F. Walker/Boston Globe StaffSharon Lokedi of Kenya floats across the finish line to win the women’s division, successfully defending her 2025 win. – Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty ImagesWellesley College students cheer for the men’s wheelchair and hand cycle competitors. – Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe StaffMichael Ottesen of the United States. – Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty ImagesFormer President Bill Clinton and his wife, former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, smile as their daughter Chelsea poses for a picture with her friend after the pair completed the Boston Marathon. – Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe StaffEden Rainbow-Cooper summits Heartbreak Hill during Monday’s race on her way to winning by more than two minutes. – Finn Gomez for The Boston GlobeMedical volunteer Stephanie Heart, left, holds up runner Aislinn Malone at the finish line. – Danielle Parhizkaran/Boston Globe StaffVasileia Panteri of Greece raises her arms toward family after finishing her first Boston Marathon. – Erin Clark/Boston Globe StaffFormer Boston Bruin Zdeno Chára after crossing the finish line. – Danielle Parhizkaran/Boston Globe StaffA runner is helped as he collapses after crossing the finish line. – Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe StaffSara Cornelius hugs her son Ace after finishing the Boston Marathon. – Erin Clark/Boston Globe Staff Stephen Rouch is decked out in sunscreen atop Heartbreak Hill. – Finn Gomez for The Boston GlobeWellesley College student Suhani Khandelwal cheers on runners. – Suzanne Kreiter/Boston Globe StaffErnest Tsui grimaces after Heartbreak Hill. – Finn Gomez for The Boston GlobeFamily members cheer for their loved ones along Boylston Street near the finish line. – Erin Clark/Boston Globe Staff A runner embraces a loved one after finishing the Boston Marathon. – Erin Clark/Boston Globe Staff Runners help each other toward the finish line. – Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe StaffSpectators reach down to congratulate a runner after he crossed the finish line. – Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe StaffConfetti flies for Daniel So before Heartbreak Hill. – Finn Gomez for The Boston Globe
Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.
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