In a historic move, the London Marathon will expand to a two-day event in 2027, accommodating a record 100,000 runners over the weekend of April 24-25. This expansion aims to address the overwhelming demand after more than 1.3 million applications were submitted in the public ballot. Despite this increase, the probability of securing a spot remains under 10%.
The expanded marathon is anticipated to generate over £150 million for charity, establishing it as the largest fundraising event in the history of UK sports. Additionally, it is expected to contribute around £400 million in social and economic benefits. This special edition of the marathon is confirmed as a one-time celebration, with plans to revert to the traditional single-day format in subsequent years.
The weekend will be split into distinct events: the first day will feature the elite women’s race, elite female para-athletes, championship, and “Good for Age” women’s categories, alongside a mass participation event with approximately 50,000 runners. The second day will spotlight the elite men’s race and include another large-scale mass participation event.
Participants will be allowed to compete only on one of the two days, with the results of the ballot expected to be announced by early July. This unique two-day format provides a rare opportunity for a larger number of runners to experience the iconic marathon while maintaining its competitive and community spirit.