TCS London Marathon Will Be a Two-Day Event in 2027

Demand for entering the London Marathon is at an all-time high. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

The TCS London Marathon, one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will be transformed into a two-day event for its 2027 edition.

Taking place on Saturday April 25 and Sunday 26, 2027, the expanded event will welcome 100,000 participants across the two days, all taking on the same route from Greenwich to Westminster. It is expected that having the event on multiple days will be a one-off occurrence.

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London Marathon Events decided to extend the event across two days to create more opportunities for runners to participate in the TCS London Marathon. The Double format will allow a record number of participants to take on a single marathon, with an unprecedented 1.33 million people entering for the 2027 event after the ballot opened on April 24.

Organizers also expect the 2027 Double format to create the largest fundraising opportunity in UK sport. More than £90 million has already been raised to date by 2026 participants, and the two-day marathon will give more charities more opportunities to raise vital funds.

The full format details are expected to be formally confirmed in the coming months. However, it is anticipated that the elite women, elite female para-athletes, championship and “good for age” women will lead the mass event on one day and the elite men, elite men para-athletes, championship and “good for age” men will lead the mass event on the other day.

People who applied to participate in the 2027 TCS London Marathon will be entered into a ballot for both the Saturday and Sunday races. They will only be able to participate in one of the in-person events, although they would in theory be allowed to complete the London Marathon one day and participate in the virtual event (TCS London Marathon MyWay) on the other day.

Ballot results will be announced in early July through a random draw, according to the organizers.

A Celebration of Sport, Music and Community

With a major focus on inspiring and supporting the next generation of athletes, every school in London will receive two guaranteed entries for teachers and staff. Additional income generated by the Double edition will be distributed by the London Marathon Foundation to community-based projects for children and young people across London and the rest of the UK.

In addition, extra guaranteed entries have been allocated to applicants in every London borough that features along the route.

The week of celebrations will include an extended annual TCS London Marathon Running Show, the TCS Mini London Marathon (April 23) for more than 20,000 young participants, and the TCS London Marathon & Friday Night Lights 5k.

“The 2027 TCS London Marathon Double is our most ambitious evolution to date — a once-in-a-generation one-time-only reimagining of what a marathon and city-wide celebration of activity can be,” said Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events. “By expanding to 100,000 runners across two days, we’re opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world’s greatest marathon. We believe that more than £150 million can be raised for good causes and the UK economy will have a £400 million social and economic benefit.

“We are grateful for the vision and support of the Mayor of London, the councils on the route, the emergency services, and all the stakeholders involved who have given their support to enable this world first event to be held for London and the UK.”

“London is the sporting capital of the world and I am delighted that, for one year only in 2027, the world famous TCS London Marathon will expand into a two-day event,” said Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. “This unique, one-off double will allow a record 100,000 participants to take part across the two days – creating the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history and supporting the work of so many incredible charities.

“The London Marathon showcases the very best of our capital and we will continue working closely with London Marathon Events and our partners to ensure appropriate measures are in place for the entire weekend as we build a better, more prosperous London for everyone.”

Inspiring a Generation

The announcement of the Double format for 2027 had been widely expected, with Brasher joining former Olympian and course record holder Paula Radcliffe, as well as other mass participation event representatives, on a webinar last month to share insights on the landscape in Europe and where it was heading.

One of the key points raised by Brasher was that marathons can serve as a unifying force to bring people together, even in an age when social media and artificial intelligence can drive people apart.

Brasher and Radcliffe cited Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa (who crossed the finish line at the TCS London Marathon in respective record times) as role models for the next generation of potential athletes to participate in marathons.