The London Marathon is preparing for a historic reset in 2027, with organizers confirming that the world-famous race will become a two-day event for the first time and open the door to 100,000 runners.
The one-off edition, named the 2027 TCS London Marathon Double, will take place on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, 2027. Every participant will still run the traditional Greenwich to Westminster route, keeping the identity of the race intact while doubling the scale of the event for one year only.
The announcement follows extraordinary demand for places. A record 1,338,544 people applied for the 2027 ballot, surpassing the previous record of 1,133,813 applications for the 2026 event.
Why London Marathon Is Expanding to Two Days
The London Marathon has grown from a major city race into one of the most competitive public ballots in world running. When the first race was held in 1981, 7,747 runners were accepted. In 2026, the event recorded 59,830 finishers, showing how far the race has expanded in both participation and global attention.
For 2027, the demand has reached a new level. More than 1.33 million applications mean the vast majority of hopeful runners would normally miss out. By spreading the event across two days, organizers can significantly increase access without changing the course or turning the annual marathon into a permanently larger race.
London Marathon Events chief executive Hugh Brasher has described the plan as a once-in-a-generation change. Organizers have also made clear that this is intended as a one-time-only format, not a permanent two-day model.
How the 2027 Ballot Will Work
Everyone who has already applied for the 2027 London Marathon will be entered into ballots for both days. The Sunday draw will take place first, because Sunday is the traditional race day. A second draw will then be held for the Saturday event.
This gives applicants two chances to secure an in-person place, although no runner will be allowed to take part in the official in-person marathon on both days. Those who want to complete an extra challenge can still run the virtual TCS London Marathon MyWay on the other day.
Ballot results are expected in early July, with places allocated through a random draw.
What Runners Can Expect on Race Weekend
The final day-by-day format has not yet been confirmed, but organizers have outlined how the elite and qualifying fields are expected to be split.
Elite women, elite female wheelchair athletes, championship women and “Good For Age” women are expected to lead the mass event on one day. Elite men, elite male wheelchair athletes, championship men and “Good For Age” men are expected to lead the other.
For everyday runners, the key point is that the race experience should remain familiar: the same 26.2-mile distance, the same London route, and the same finish in Westminster. The difference will be the scale of the weekend around it.
Charity Fundraising Could Hit a New Peak
The London Marathon is already known as the world’s largest annual one-day fundraising event. Participants in the 2026 race have raised more than £90 million to date for charity.
With 100,000 runners expected across the 2027 weekend, organizers believe the expanded event could raise more than £150 million for good causes. That figure matters because many charities rely on marathon places as a major annual fundraising stream.
The event is also projected to deliver around £400 million in wider social and economic benefit for the UK, with hotels, restaurants, transport providers, shops and visitor attractions likely to benefit from a longer marathon weekend.
Schools, Boroughs and Young Runners Are Part of the Plan
The 2027 expansion is also being used to widen access beyond the main adult race. Every school in London will receive two guaranteed entries for teachers or staff, reflecting the event’s focus on inspiring more young people to become active.
Additional guaranteed entries will also be allocated to London boroughs along the marathon route, giving local communities and grassroots groups a direct stake in the expanded event.
The Mini London Marathon will take place on Friday, April 23, 2027, with more than 20,000 young participants expected. Organizers said all additional income from the two-day format will be distributed by the London Marathon Foundation to projects supporting children and young people across London and the UK.
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The two-day format gives London a chance to test how a major city marathon can grow without losing the qualities that made it popular. It also raises practical questions around road closures, policing, medical support, transport, volunteers and residents living along the route.
That balance between scale and planning is becoming a bigger issue across major sports. The same pressure can be seen in other expanded events, including football’s move toward larger global tournaments and rising demand around the World Cup 2026 debut nations, where wider access creates new opportunities but also brings added logistical and commercial challenges.
For London, the 2027 marathon will be more than a race weekend. It will be a test of whether one of the world’s most recognizable city events can double participation, increase charity fundraising and still deliver the atmosphere runners expect from the capital’s biggest annual road race.
For official race updates, ballot guidance and participant information, visit the TCS London Marathon website.
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