More than 26,000 participants will compete in the sold-out 2026 ASICS Los Angeles Marathon this Sunday along a course lined with lively entertainment.
The marathon starts at 7 a.m. from Dodger Stadium. The finish line is at Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars in Century City.
The 26.2-mile course goes through some of LA’s most recognizable neighborhoods and landmarks, including Elysian Park, Little Tokyo, the Capitol Records Tower, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Chateau Marmont, Rodeo Drive, Chinatown, Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills.
Karen Sternheimer will run her first marathon and get one step closer to returning to the Pacific Palisades. Keenan Willard reports for the NBC4 News at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Organizers told NBC Los Angeles that the route will feature 126 “cheer zones” — 60 led by charities and 66 led by run clubs — plus festive entertainment and live performances for spectators at nearly every mile.
Here’s a quick glimpse of what to expect along the marathon course:
- Starting Line at Dodger Stadium: DJ Severe
- Mile 1: DJ Gusto Funk
- Mile 2: East Wind Lion Dancers
- Mile 3: Colibri All Women’s Mariachi
- Mile 4: Koshin Taiko Drummers
- Mile 6: Drumline – Sidle Entertainment
- Mile 8: DJ Escalade
- Mile 9: Silverlake Conservatory of Music
- Mile 10: DJ Puffs at Pop-Tarts Activation
- Mile 12: y2k2k!
- Mile 15: DJ Antiq and WeHo Queens
- Mile 17: Pink Mozart and the “Pretty Woman” Activation
- Mile 19: Taiko Ichiza
- Mile 20: Ladies of Sound & Light Activation and Riding Low: Low Rider Club
- Mile 21: Boleros with Attitude
- Mile 22: New West Charter School
- Mile 22 Turnaround: Hallelujah! Choir + MC
- Mile 24: JETLEMONS
- Finish Line in Century City: DJ Ray + Pops and DJ Joe.
The party at the finish line will also feature bleacher seating and limited seating atop some double-decker Starline buses, plus crowds cheering loudly as runners reach that milestone. The finish line celebration runs through 3 p.m.
As thousands of runners prepare to hit the streets for the Los Angeles Marathon, California Live correspondent Paul Costabile chats with LA native and endurance athlete Nadia Ruiz, who’s about to run her 28th consecutive race. From hydration and fueling to pacing and mindset, Nadia shares expert strategies to help runners feel confident, prepared, and strong all the way to the finish line.
By the way, NBC4 and Telemundo 52 were named the new broadcasting partners of the ASICS Los Angeles Marathon this year, and the partnership will continue through at least 2029. Expect lots of coverage from the marathon across our platforms, in both English and Spanish.
Watch the live broadcast of the LA Marathon on NBCLA and Telemundo 52 from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday. You can also watch the livestream of the marathon on NBCLA’s website.
To learn more about the LA Marathon, including information on road closures and the course map, check out our marathon guide.
