The London Marathon has confirmed that next year's race will be staged over two days, allowing a record 100,000 runners to take part and raising tens of millions more for charity. The event, dubbed 'the Double', will take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, after organisers secured backing from key stakeholders including Transport for London.
Chief executive Hugh Brasher described the expansion as 'the most ambitious evolution to date', with expectations that more than £150m will be raised for good causes and the UK economy will benefit by £400m. The two-day format will see elite women, elite female para-athletes, championship and 'good for age' women run alongside a mixed mass event of around 50,000 participants on one day, while elite men headline the other day with a second mass participation event.
Nearly 1.3 million people applied through the ballot, but chances of securing a place remain below 10%. Ballot results are due in early July. Organisers confirmed that 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 will create the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history.
