People have said the marathon boom is waning, but in 2027 the TCS London Marathon delivered a powerful rebuttal.
100,000 people — a two-day 'weekend carnival'!
On April 24 (Saturday) and 25 (Sunday), 2027, over two full days, 100,000 runners will take to the same iconic course, in a joint attempt to challenge the Guinness World Record!
Of course, as runners, what you care about most is how to take part, and the details around registration, the ballot, and participation.
First of all, if you missed registration, it's probably too late — your only options are buying a charity spot or a tour group place.
The traditional entry routes for the 2027 TCS London Marathon remain in place, including: ballot (Ballot), charity places (Charity), Good For Age places (Good For Age), elite athletes (Championships), British Athletics Clubs places (British Athletics Clubs), international places (International), and places for participants with disabilities (Participants with Disabilities).
About the ballot: you may have missed it — or your chances could double!
"I missed the 2027 TCS London Marathon ballot that was open from 24 April to 1 May 2026 — will it reopen?"
Unfortunately, officials have stated: No! If you didn't enter the ballot then, please explore other entry options.
However, if you've already entered the 2027 lottery, congratulations! All runners who entered the lottery will automatically be included in the draw pool for the events on April 24 and 25, 2027. If you chose to donate your entry fee when registering, your chances of being selected will automatically double, effectively giving you four entries!
When will the draw results be announced? Officials say you'll receive notification of the draw results in July 2026, and you'll be told which day you'll be racing.
"Can I run both days?" Sorry, no.Each runner may only choose to race on one day.
For the elite athletes, Good For Age qualifiers, and wheelchair races, the 2027 events will be gender-separated.One day will be the elite men's race, the men's T53/T54 wheelchair race, and the men's Good For Age categories, followed by the mass race;
On the other day will be the elite women's field, the T53/T54 women's wheelchair category, the age-qualified women's category, followed by the mass field. (Please note the mass field will not be gender-segregated within each respective race day.)
Will this be the new normal?
No! Officials have made it clear,the 2027 "Double-Day Carnival" is a one-off, unique event limited to 2027.
In addition, on Friday, 23 April 2027 the TCS London Marathon's "Friday Night Lights" event will be held as usual (TCS London Marathon & Friday Night Lights event).
A two-day spectacle: 100,000 runners, the same course!
The 2027 TCS London Marathon is sure to be eye-catching. This "two-day celebration" is not only a breakthrough in scale, but also a brand-new upgrade to the runner experience.
Friends, are you ready to welcome this historic London Marathon?First off, the ballot acceptance rate will probably still be alarmingly low.
It seems sports brands and marketing campaigns can get creative in lots of new ways during a two-day full marathon event.