The London Marathon will be held over two days in a special one-off edition of the event in 2027.
Organizers Confirmed earlier this year They were exploring ways to enable more people to take part, after a record 1.33 million people went to the polls for next year’s event.
The two events – on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April – will allow 100,000 people to take part in the 2027 London Marathon, effectively doubling the chances of success for those who entered the ballot.
The move is also expected to raise more than £150 million for charities and provide a £400 million boost to the UK economy, according to Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events (LME).
Everyone who applied to participate next year will be entered into the ballot on Saturday and Sunday, with ballot results to be announced in early July.
“Doubling the 2027 London Marathon is our most ambitious development to date – a one-off reimagining of what a marathon can be and a celebration of city-wide activism,” Brasher said.
“By expanding to 100,000 runners over two days, we are opening the door for more people, more charities and communities to take part in the world’s biggest marathon. We believe over £150 million can be raised for charitable causes and the UK economy will deliver a social and economic benefit worth £400 million.
“We are grateful for the vision and support of the Mayor of London, councils on the road, emergency services and all relevant stakeholders who have given their support to enable this world-first event to be held in London and the UK.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “London is the sporting capital of the world, and I am delighted that for just one year in 2027, the world-famous London Marathon will expand into a two-day event.”
A total of 1,338,544 people applied to take part in the 2027 London Marathon, breaking the record of 1,133,813 applicants for the 2026 event.
The London Marathon achieved a record 59,830 participants in 2026, and was the largest annual single-day fundraising event in the world, with more than £90 million raised to date for charity by 2026 participants.
History was also made at this year’s Games, with Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawi becoming the first athlete to run A two-hour marathon in a competitive race.
Brasher remained adamant that the expanded two-day event would be for one year only, after what he described as an “astonishing number of applicants” hoping to take part in 2027.
He told BBC Sport the two-day event was nine years in the making, but after forming the initial idea in 2017, with a view to holding it in 2020, they failed to get permission.
The plan is for elite women, elite wheelchair athletes, the championship, and “age-appropriate” women to lead the mass event on one day, with elite men, elite male wheelchair athletes, the championship, and “age-appropriate” men to lead the mass event on the other.
However, London Marathon organizers said that all format details will be confirmed in the coming months.
All 100,000 participants will run over the two days on the regular London Marathon route from Greenwich to Westminster.
Brasher explained to the BBC that the ballot will be drawn first for Sunday – the day the marathon is usually held – before a second drawing will be held on Saturday.
The London Mini Marathon will be held on Friday with the participation of more than 20,000 young people.
Organizers say all additional income generated from the two-day format will be distributed by the London Marathon Foundation to projects that inspire activity in children and young people across London and the UK.
