Boston Marathon

Photos: Here’s what Boston looks like before Marathon Monday

Runners and fans in blue and yellow pack Back Bay and the Marathon Expo as Boston gears up for its 130th race.

Pedestrians in front of the Boston Marathon finish line on Friday, April 17, 2026. Kelly Chan/Boston.com

Boylston Street is already packed with hundreds of people in blue and yellow, and the statues of Commonwealth Ave. are lined with budding daffodils. It’s officially Boston Marathon weekend.

Runners, spectators, and locals have flooded Hynes Convention Center for the Boston Marathon Expo to pick up their bibs, track jackets, freebies from sponsors, and more marathon memorabilia.

See what the city looks like leading up to Marathon Monday.

Boston Marathon weekend has officially begun.
A group of Boston Marathon runners pose for a photo after getting their bibs. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
The mother duck in the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in a festive Boston Fleet jersey and a hat with flowers. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
Two runners on Commonwealth Ave., which is lined with budding daffodils. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
A man takes a selfie before entering the Boston Marathon Expo. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
Runners wait to receive their bibs on Friday, April 17, 2026. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
Spectators visit the CLIF activation outside of the Prudential Center. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
A group of children create cheer signs at the Boston Marathon Expo. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
Two large pitchers and free samples of Samuel Adams 26.2 Brew at the Boston Marathon Expo. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
A man writes a note on a signing wall at the Boston Marathon Expo in Hynes Convention Center. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
Tons of people sporting marathon gear swarm Hynes Convention Center for the Boston Marathon Expo. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
A “Boston loves you” sign hangs in the Boston Common, next to tents and signage being prepped for Marathon Monday. – Kelly Chan/Boston.com
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Kelly Chan

Content Producer

Kelly Chan is a content producer at Boston.com. She designs multimedia content on site and across social media platforms, and experiments with new ways to engage readers.

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