The streets of Boston are set to burn this April. Organizers of the 130th Boston Marathon have confirmed a lineup that reads like a fantasy league of distance running, setting the stage for a titanic clash between defending champion John Korir and reigning World Champion Alphonce Simbu.

Scheduled for Patriots' Day, April 20, 2026, the race will see the return of eight of the top 10 finishers from last year. But all eyes will be on the rivalry at the front. Kenya's John Korir, who obliterated the field last year with a 2:04:45 finish, is returning with a target on his back. He enters the race in terrifying form, having capped his 2025 season with a personal best of 2:02:24 at the Valencia Marathon.

The Challengers

Korir will not have it easy. The field includes 25 men who have run under 2:07:00, a depth of talent that guarantees a brutal pace from Hopkinton to Boylston Street.

• Alphonce Simbu (Tanzania): The 2025 World Champion finished second in Boston last year. He is hungry, tactical, and has proven he can handle championship pressure.
• Benson Kipruto (Kenya): A former Boston champion (2021) and the first man to win all three US Majors (Boston, Chicago, New York). He knows the course intimately.
• Cybrian Kotut (Kenya): Finishing third last year, he is knocking on the door of a major victory.

"Boston holds a special place in my heart," said Benson Kipruto, signaling his intent to reclaim the crown. "I look forward to starting my 2026 season and racing a fast group of men."

For Kenyan athletics fans, this is more than just a race; it is a statement of dominance. With Korir and Kipruto leading the charge, the expectation is that the Kenyan anthem will once again ring out in Copley Square. But with Simbu in the mix, the East African rivalry is alive and well, promising 42 kilometers of pure adrenaline.