The 130th Boston Marathon takes place Monday, April 20, drawing elite runners, wheelchair athletes and tens of thousands of recreational competitors along the classic Hopkinton-to-Boston course. If you want to follow the action live, there are several easy ways to watch or stream the race without paying for a subscription.

Start by checking the marathon’s official website and its mobile app: organizers often provide a live tracker, real-time splits and links to any official livestreams. The event’s social media channels (official accounts on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and X) commonly share highlight clips, live segments and updates throughout race day — a convenient free option for fans who can’t tune into full broadcast coverage.

National and local broadcasters generally carry extended coverage of the Boston Marathon, so look at your local TV listings and the broadcasters’ online platforms. Many networks make at least part of their coverage available for free through their websites or apps. If you prefer full-screen video, search for the event name plus “live stream” on those official broadcaster sites or the marathon’s media page to find direct links.

If you’re tracking a specific runner rather than watching full video, use the race’s athlete-tracking features. These tools show start times, intermediate split points and an estimated finish time, and they send alerts when a runner passes timing mats. Combining the tracker with short live clips from social channels gives a complete, real-time picture of how competitors are progressing around the course.

International viewers should check their local sports networks and streaming services for rights announcements, and consider time-zone differences when planning to watch. For the best experience on race day, have the official site and at least one broadcaster or social feed open, keep your device charged and follow the marathon’s official accounts for any last-minute updates or schedule changes.