Download our Free 8-Week Plan here →

Boston Marathon Unveils Golden Medal for 130th Running in 2026

February 19, 2026
By
Anna F.

A newly redesigned gold medal will await runners at the 130th Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, featuring the iconic unicorn logo, a 130th anniversary inscription, and a blue-and-gold ribbon created for the milestone year.

​Runners crossing the finish line of the 130th Boston Marathon this April will receive a newly redesigned gold medal marking a milestone year for the world’s oldest annual marathon.

New Boston Marathon Medal (Credi: Marathon Handbook)

​The Boston Marathon will take place on April 20, 2026, and the Boston Athletic Association revealed the commemorative finisher medal on Wednesday.

The design honors 130 years of racing along the historic 26.2 mile route from Hopkinton to Boylston Street.

​At the center of the medal is the race’s iconic unicorn logo, framed within a circular outer ring. To the left of the unicorn’s mane appears the year 2026.

Around the edge, the inscription reads “130th Boston Marathon” and “Boston Athletic Association.”

The reverse side is stamped with the official race date, April 20, 2026.

​The medal’s gold color was chosen to recognize the 130th edition of the race, first held in 1897.

It hangs from a blue and gold ribbon created specifically for this anniversary year.

​Production is handled by Ashworth Awards, a North Attleborough based company that has long partnered with the event.

​As one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, Boston continues to draw elite athletes and qualified runners from around the globe, each chasing not only a time, but a place in history.

You Might Also Like

12 Things No One Tells You About Running

New to running (or returning) and surprised it feels awful at first? These 12 rarely mentioned lessons cover the real stuff gear costs, hunger, bad runs, weather, feet issues, and why you might still end up hooked.

Harry Styles Breaks Three Hours at Berlin Marathon, Finishes Among Top 5% of 48,000 Runners

Harry Styles stunned marathon fans in Berlin 2025, running 2:59:13 under an alias and finishing 2,245th out of 48,000+

Kenya’s Kennedy Kimutai Wins 2026 Paris Half Marathon as 50,000 Runners Fill the Streets

Paris welcomed 50,000 runners for the 2026 Paris Half Marathon, with Kennedy Kimutai and Ftaw Zeray taking the wins as crowds cheered along the Seine and through the Bois de Vincennes.

LA Marathon Allows Runners to Finish at 18 Miles Due to Heat Forecast

Los Angeles Marathon organizers are adding a heat-safety option: if race-day temperatures climb too high, runners may stop just after mile 18 and still receive a finisher medal. With forecasts rising from 12–13°C at the 7 a.m. start to 25–27°C by midday, the McCourt Foundation says the goal is preventing dangerous heat illness.

Jacob Kiplimo Sets New Half Marathon World Record with 57:20 in Lisbon

Jacob Kiplimo just rewrote the half-marathon record books in Lisbon, storming to a 57:20 victory without pacemakers, outkicking Nicholas Kipkorir late as Tsigie Gebreselama defended her women’s title in dominant fashion.

Study Finds Vitamin D Helps Maintain Immune Health, but Does Not Improve Running Performance

Vitamin D can help runners hold onto healthy levels through the dark winter months, and may support immune markers, but this new study found it doesn’t translate into better performance like VO₂max, power, or strength.