The London Marathon is set to break new ground in 2027 by extending the event to span two days, enabling an unprecedented 100,000 runners to take part during the weekend of April 24-25. This significant alteration from the traditional single-day format comes in response to overwhelming interest, as more than 1.3 million people applied through the public ballot. Despite the expansion, the likelihood of securing a spot will remain under 10%.
This historic expansion is anticipated to generate over £150 million for charitable causes, marking it as the largest fundraising event in the history of UK sports. Additionally, the marathon is expected to contribute approximately £400 million in social and economic benefits, underscoring its impact beyond the race itself.
The revised schedule will accommodate a variety of races: the elite women’s, elite female para-athletes, championship, and “Good for Age” women’s races are slated for one day, alongside a mass participation event involving nearly 50,000 runners. The following day will feature the elite men’s race as its highlight, accompanied by another large-scale mass participation event.
Participants will be restricted to running on just one of the two days, with the results of the ballot set to be revealed in early July. This two-day format is confirmed as a unique celebration, with plans for the London Marathon to revert to its traditional one-day schedule in subsequent years.