London: The London Marathon has confirmed that its 2027 edition will be staged over two days, allowing a record-breaking 100,000 runners to participate and significantly increasing fundraising opportunities for charities.
The historic event, dubbed the ‘TCS London Marathon Double,’ will take place on April 24 and 25, 2027. Organisers believe the expanded format could generate more than £150 million for charitable causes while delivering an estimated £400 million in social and economic benefits to the UK economy.
The move comes after months of discussions involving key stakeholders, including the Mayor of London’s office and Transport for London. While concerns were initially raised about closing parts of the capital for two consecutive days, organisers ultimately secured support for the one-off event.
London Marathon Chief Executive Hugh Brasher described the initiative as the most ambitious transformation in the race’s history.
“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,” Brasher said.
“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,” the Chief Executive noted.
Event highlights
Organisers also confirmed details of the race format. One day will feature the elite women, elite female para-athletes, championship women and ‘good for age’ female runners alongside a mixed mass-participation field of nearly 50,000 competitors.
The second day will showcase the elite men’s race and include another large-scale mass participation event. However, participants will not be permitted to run in person on both days.
The announcement offers additional opportunities for the 1.3 million people who entered the public ballot for the race, although the odds of securing a place remain below 10 percent. Applicants will learn the outcome of the ballot in early July.
The decision was welcomed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who described the expanded format as a unique opportunity to further cement London’s status as a global sporting capital.
“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,” Khan said.
“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.”
MOST READ | Taliban orders smartphone ban across government offices
