The 2027 London Marathon will see 100,000 people taking part in the capital’s first-ever double marathon.
The ballot results are being released on Thursday, with tens of thousands set to receive good – or bad – news.
Joe Wicks and Daddy Pig after finishing the 2026 TCS London Marathon
PA
The 2026 event set participation records, and Sabastian Sawe made history by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2027 London Marathon.
When is the London Marathon?
The 2027 edition of the race will be run over two days for the first time.
It will take place on Saturday April 24 and Sunday April 25, allowing many more runners to participate.
The increased numbers will help tackle the demand for places, with 1.33 million people entering the ballot.
Runners during the 2026 TCS London Marathon
PA
The event is also likely to smash previous records for the amount of money raised by a UK sporting event, which was set at the 2026 event with more than £90 million.
Organisers say the expanded event will be a one-off.
How many people will take part?
Around 100,000 people will take part across the two days, with 45,000 running on Saturday and 55,000 on Sunday.
That will obliterate the current world record for most participants in a marathon, which was set at the 2026 event.
Some 59,830 of the 60,512 starters finished the 2026 London Marathon which took place on Sunday, April 26.
Runners make their way down The Mall to the final stages of the 2026 London Marathon
AFP/Getty
Everyone who entered the 2027 ballot was automatically included in a random draw for both days, and the results are being sent by email to all applicants over the course of Thursday.
Applicants have been told to contact London Marathon Events if they have not received their result by 9am on Friday.
Those who are successful will need to confirm their details by 4pm on Friday July 31 to secure their entry.
Every school in London will receive two guaranteed entries for teachers or staff, and extra guaranteed entries have been allocated to every London borough along the race route.
What can I do if I fail in the ballot?
If you miss out in the ballot, it isn’t all over – there are other ways of gaining a place.
Of the 100,000 places, thousands are reserved for charity places.
Hundreds of charities across the UK are offering spaces, with runners able to apply directly through charity websites, with a spot guaranteed in exchange for committing to raise a specific fundraising minimum.
Runners are seen from inside Tower Bridge during the 2026 London Marathon
Getty
Alternatively, you can enter the “virtual” marathon, where you can complete the marathon wherever you choose on either day.
In the London Marathon MyWay, runners have the full day to complete the race – but the distance must be completed outdoors and cannot be completed on a treadmill.
The 26.2-mile course begins in Greenwich Park and finishes on The Mall, with the finish line near Buckingham Palace.
Participants can take in a host of London’s most iconic landmarks along the way, including
Tower Bridge, the Cutty Sark, and the Elizabeth Tower.
