The London Marathon is set to make history in 2027 by transforming into a two-day event, allowing an unprecedented 100,000 runners to compete over the weekend of April 24–25. This historic change aims to accommodate the overwhelming demand, as evidenced by the more than 1.3 million entries received through the public ballot. Despite this expansion, the odds of securing a spot will still be less than 10% due to the high level of interest.
Organizers anticipate that the expanded event will generate over £150 million for charity, establishing it as the largest fundraising occasion in the history of UK sports. Additionally, it is expected to contribute approximately £400 million in social and economic benefits. This significant impact underscores the marathon’s role not just as a sporting event but also as a substantial force for community and charitable contributions.
The two-day schedule will be carefully organized, with the first day dedicated to the elite women’s race, elite female para-athletes, championship, and “Good for Age” women’s categories, alongside a mass participation event featuring nearly 50,000 runners. The following day will see the elite men’s race as the main event, coupled with another large-scale mass participation run.
Each participant will have the chance to run on only one of the two days, with the results of the ballot expected to be announced in early July. This special two-day format is confirmed as a one-time celebration, and organizers plan to revert to the traditional single-day marathon format in subsequent years.