The London Marathon has confirmed that the 2027 edition will be staged over two days, allowing a record 100,000 runners to participate. The event, dubbed 'The Double', will take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, and is expected to raise over £150 million for charity.
Organisers say the expansion is a one-off, once-in-a-generation reimagining of the marathon. Hugh Brasher, chief executive of the London Marathon, described it as 'the most ambitious evolution to date', adding that it would open the door for more people, charities and communities to take part.
The elite women, elite female para-athletes, championship and 'good for age' women will run on the same day alongside a mixed mass event with nearly 50,000 runners. The elite men will headline a similar programme on the other day, which will also include a second mass participation event. Runners will not be allowed to take part in the in-person event on both days.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the move, calling it a 'unique, one-off double' that would create the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history. The event is also expected to deliver a £400 million boost to the UK economy.
Around 1.3 million people applied for a place in the ballot, but their chances of getting a place remain below 10%. Ballot results will be announced in early July. The expansion had been reported by The Guardian in March, but final approval took longer due to concerns from Transport for London and other stakeholders about shutting down the capital for two consecutive days.
