London Marathon Expands to Two-Day Event in 2027 to Accommodate 100,000 Runners

June 19, 2026
London Marathon Expands to Two-Day Event in 2027 to Accommodate 100,000 Runners
  • London Marathon will become a one-off, two-day event in 2027, expanding the weekend to host a record 100,000 participants across April 24 and 25.

  • A projected 1.34 million people entered the 2027 ballot, with the prior year drawing 59,830 finishers and charities raising over £90 million in 2026.

  • The two-day format is designed to meet unprecedented demand and aims to raise more than £150 million for charity while delivering substantial social and economic benefits.

  • Successful execution depends on collaboration among the mayor, route councils, emergency services, and other stakeholders.

  • Elite events will be spread across the two days, featuring elite women, para-athletes, championship, and good-for-age runners on one day and their male counterparts on the other, with exact scheduling to be announced.

  • Details on which specific groups compete on which day will be confirmed later as the plan is refined.

  • The elite and championship events will lead the mass participation on alternating days, with full format details to come in the months ahead.

  • Ballot entrants will be notified in early July, and participants may run on only one of the two days.

  • The two-day event is a one-year trial conceived years ago and contingent on permissions and logistics.

  • The expansion seeks to meet record demand and amplify fundraising and social impact beyond the traditional one-day format.

  • Approvals from local authorities, emergency services, councils, and the Mayor were required; The Guardian first reported the plan in March 2026.

  • Participants will run only once during the weekend, with July ballot results and the event billed as a once-in-a-generation reimagining of a city-wide celebration.

Summary based on 9 sources


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