The London Marathon will expand into a two-day event for the first time in 2027, with organisers confirming the move will double participant numbers to 100,000 after a record 1.33 million people applied for next year’s ballot.
The 2027 race will take place over Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April, with runners split across the two days in what organisers describe as a one-time-only reimagining of the event. Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said the expansion was designed to widen participation while delivering a significant financial boost for charities and the wider UK economy. “The 2027 London Marathon double is our most ambitious evolution to date — a once-in-a-generation one-time-only reimagining of what a marathon and city-wide celebration of activity can be,” he said. “By expanding to 100,000 runners across two days, we’re opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world’s greatest marathon. We believe that more than £150m can be raised for good causes and the UK economy will have a £400m social and economic benefit.”
This year’s event already set records in its own right, with 59,830 finishers and more than £90 million raised for charity, making it the largest annual one-day fundraising event in the world. Organisers expect the 2027 edition to comfortably surpass those figures given the doubling of runner numbers.
Securing a place remains notoriously difficult, even with the expanded capacity. The main route into the event is the public ballot, which entered applicants into a draw covering both days of the race. However, that window has now closed, having run from late April to 1 May, with results due to be announced early next month.
For those who missed the ballot, securing a charity place remains an available option. Many charities offer guaranteed entry in exchange for a commitment to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship money, typically around £2,500. Applications for charity places can be made either directly through the official London Marathon website or by contacting individual charities, some of which may still be accepting entries.
A further route exists through the “Good for Age” or championship entry schemes, which require runners to meet specific qualifying times based on age and gender. Application windows for these skill-based entry methods typically open during the summer.
