The London Marathon is set to make history in 2027 by expanding into a two-day event, allowing an unprecedented 100,000 runners to compete over the weekend of April 24–25. This unique format change is being introduced to accommodate the overwhelming demand, as more than 1.3 million individuals applied through the public ballot. Despite the increased capacity, the odds of securing a spot will remain under 10%.
This enlarged event is anticipated to become the largest fundraising occasion in UK sporting history, with expectations to raise over £150 million for charity. Additionally, the marathon is projected to deliver approximately £400 million in social and economic benefits.
The schedule for the weekend is set to include specific races on each day. The first day will feature the elite women’s race, elite female para-athletes, the championship race, and the “Good for Age” women’s race, alongside a mass participation run of nearly 50,000 athletes. The second day will highlight the elite men’s race, accompanied by another large-scale mass participation event.
Participants will only have the opportunity to compete on one of the two days, with results from the ballot expected to be announced in early July. This two-day format is confirmed as a one-time celebration event, with expectations for the London Marathon to revert to its traditional single-day format in subsequent years.