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, marking the first time in the race's history that it spans a weekend.
Organisers anticipate that the expansion will raise over £150 million for charity and deliver a £400 million boost to the UK economy. The move, first reported by the Guardian in March, was backed by the London mayor's office but faced initial reservations from Transport for London and other stakeholders over the two-day closure of the capital.
Under the planned format, elite women, elite female para-athletes, and championship and 'good for age' women will run alongside a mixed mass event on one day. Elite men will headline a similar programme on the other day, which will also include a second mass participation event. Runners will not be permitted to take part in both days.
London Marathon chief executive Hugh Brasher described the expansion as a 'once-in-a-generation' reimagining of the event. London mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed the decision, calling it 'the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history'. Ballot results for the 1.3 million applicants are due in early July, though chances of securing a place remain below 10%.
