In a historic move, the London Marathon will transform into a two-day event in 2027, accommodating up to 100,000 runners over the weekend of April 24–25. This expansion comes in response to the overwhelming demand, as evidenced by the 1.3 million individuals who entered the public ballot. Despite this significant increase in participation, securing a spot remains highly competitive, with odds still below 10%.
The expanded format is set to become the largest fundraising event in UK sporting history, with expectations to raise over £150 million for charity. Additionally, the marathon is projected to contribute approximately £400 million in social and economic benefits. Organizers are billing this change as a one-time celebration, and the marathon is anticipated to revert to its traditional single-day format in subsequent years.
The two-day schedule will feature different race categories on each day. On the first day, the elite women’s race, elite female para-athletes, and championship races, along with the “Good for Age” women’s event, will take place. This will be coupled with a mass participation race involving nearly 50,000 runners. The second day will be headlined by the elite men’s race, accompanied by another large-scale mass participation event.
Participants will be limited to competing on one of the two days, ensuring a broad distribution of participants across the event. The results of the ballot, which determine who secures these coveted places, are expected to be announced in early July.