In a historic move, the London Marathon will expand to a two-day event in 2027, accommodating a record number of 100,000 runners over the weekend of April 24–25. This one-off format change aims to address the overwhelming interest, as more than 1.3 million people entered the public ballot for a chance to participate. Despite the increased capacity, the likelihood of securing a spot in the race remains under 10% due to the high demand.
The expanded event is anticipated to raise over £150 million for charitable causes, positioning it as the largest fundraising event in the history of UK sports. Additionally, the marathon is expected to bring about £400 million in combined social and economic benefits to the region. This ambitious initiative underscores the event’s significant impact beyond the race itself, both in charitable contributions and economic stimulation.
The marathon weekend will feature a diverse range of competitions. On one day, the elite women’s race, elite female para-athletes, championship, and “Good for Age” women’s races will occur alongside a mass participation event involving nearly 50,000 runners. The following day will spotlight the elite men’s race and host another large-scale mass participation event. This structure ensures a wide array of competitions while distributing the participant load across the weekend.
Participants will be limited to running on a single day, maintaining the integrity and challenge of the event. The results of the public ballot, determining who gets to participate, are expected to be revealed in early July. Although this two-day marathon format is confirmed as a singular celebration, the London Marathon plans to revert to its traditional one-day schedule in subsequent years.