TCS London Marathon will expand into a two-day event in 2027

The TCS London Marathon will expand into a two-day event in 2027, allowing a record 100,000 runners to take part in what organisers are describing as a one-off celebration of sport, charity and community.

The event will take place across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, marking the first time the London Marathon has been staged over two days. Organisers say the move is designed to meet unprecedented demand for places while increasing the event's fundraising and social impact.

The expanded format comes after more than 1.3 million people entered the ballot for the 2026 race, underlining the growing popularity of what is already one of the world's largest marathons. Participants on both days will follow the traditional route from Greenwich to Westminster.

Under the new format, elite women, female para-athletes, championship and Good For Age women will race on one day, while elite men, male para-athletes, championship and Good For Age men will compete on the other. Full details are expected to be announced in the coming months.

London Marathon Events estimates that the two-day race could raise more than £150 million for charity, surpassing the event's existing status as the world's largest annual one-day fundraising event. Organisers also believe the expanded marathon could generate up to £400 million in social and economic benefits.

The event will form the centrepiece of a week-long festival of running in the capital. The programme will include an extended London Marathon Running Show, the Friday Night Lights 5K, and the TCS Mini London Marathon, which is expected to attract more than 20,000 young participants.

A significant focus of the 2027 event will be increasing opportunities for participation. Every school in London will receive two guaranteed marathon entries for teachers or staff members, while additional places will be allocated to boroughs along the route to support local charities and community organisations.

Any additional income generated by the expanded event will be distributed through the London Marathon Foundation to projects that encourage children and young people to be more active across London and the UK.

People who have already entered the ballot for the 2027 race will automatically be considered for places on either Saturday or Sunday. Organisers confirmed that runners will not be permitted to participate in the in-person marathon on both days, although they may combine one day of racing with the virtual London Marathon MyWay event.

London Marathon Events Chief Executive Hugh Brasher described the move as a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to reimagine the event and widen participation.

“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.

“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 £150m can be raised for good causes and the UK economy will have a £400m 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.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed the announcement, saying the one-off expansion would create the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history while allowing a record number of participants to experience the marathon.

“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.

“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.”

The London Marathon has grown into one of the world's most recognisable mass-participation sporting events, attracting runners from across the globe and raising hundreds of millions of pounds for charitable causes. The 2027 edition is expected to be the largest in the race's history.

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