Can't Run London Marathon 2027? Every Option Explained

The hard truth — no person-to-person transfers

London Marathon's policy on this is unambiguous: you cannot transfer your race place to another person. No exceptions. Running under someone else's name, number swapping, or any form of unofficial transfer is a breach of the terms and conditions and can result in a ban from future events for both parties. This applies to all entry types — ballot, charity, Good For Age, Championship, and Tour Operator places.

If you see someone offering to "sell" their London Marathon place on social media — what they're actually offering is their race number, which is non-transferable. Buying it puts you at serious risk. The entry remains in the original entrant's name. If there's a medical emergency on course, first responders will have the wrong person's details. It also means your finish time, if any, will be recorded under someone else's name. Don't do it.

You have a 2027 place but can't race — your options

The options available depend entirely on how you got your place:

Deferring a ballot place to 2028 — step by step

Charity places — if you can't get a ballot spot

Charity places are the most reliable way to guarantee a London Marathon entry — the ballot success rate is roughly 2%, but charities with allocated places can offer spots to committed fundraisers year-round.

For 2027, many charities are already collecting expressions of interest following the sold-out 2026 event. The typical commitment is a fundraising target of £2,000–£2,600 (the average activated fundraising page raises around £2,623, according to London Marathon Events' own data), plus often a registration fee of £50–£100 paid to the charity.

What to know before applying for a charity place

• The fundraising target is a minimum, not a suggestion — most charities require written commitment to the target and will withdraw places from runners who don't meet it
• The place belongs to the charity — if you can't race, the deferral decision is the charity's, not yours. Some are understanding; some are not.
• Apply even if you've entered the ballot — most charities actively encourage ballot applicants to also secure a charity place, with the understanding that if you get a ballot place, they can reallocate the charity spot
• Costs add up — entry fee (to charity) + fundraising target + travel to London + accommodation. For runners outside the UK, this can be a significant total commitment

Entering the 2027 ballot — opens 26 April 2026

The 2027 TCS London Marathon ballot opens during the weekend of the 2026 race — on or around Sunday 26 April 2026. Based on the 2026 pattern, the ballot will be open for approximately one week and close around 2 May 2026. Ballot results are typically announced in June.

Entering is free. Anyone can apply — UK or international, first-time marathon runner or veteran. There is no advantage to applying at any particular time during the open window; the draw is completely random.

The numbers

• Over 1.1 million people applied for the 2026 London Marathon
• Approximately 57,000 places in total — but only around 17,000 allocated to the public ballot
• The remaining places go to charity runners, Good For Age, Championship, clubs, Tour Operators, and stakeholders
• Ballot success rate: roughly 2%

Good For Age entry

Good For Age (GFA) gives UK residents who have run a qualifying marathon time a higher-probability route to a London place. There are 6,000 GFA places available (3,000 men / 3,000 women), allocated fastest-first within each age and gender category.

Hitting the qualifying time does not guarantee entry — it gives you the right to apply. The qualifying window and times for 2027 will be announced after the 2026 race. For reference, 2026 GFA times required runners to be approximately 2–3 minutes faster per age bracket than 2025. The trend is towards tighter times as the programme becomes more competitive.

Alternative marathons if you can't get London

The reality is that most runners who want to run London won't get in through the ballot. Here are the best alternatives — some easier to enter, some comparable in scale and atmosphere:

Manchester in particular is worth highlighting for London rejects — it runs just one week before London, is first-come, first-served with no ballot, and the organisers have historically offered a refund to runners who subsequently secure a London ballot place. See the Manchester Marathon 2027 entry guide for full details.

Frequently asked questions

I saw someone selling their London Marathon place online. Is that legitimate?

No. What they're selling is their race number, which is non-transferable. The entry remains in the original registrant's name. Running under someone else's name puts you at risk — your medical data and emergency contacts are wrong, your finish time goes on someone else's record, and both of you risk a ban from future events. Avoid it entirely.

I have a charity place. My charity says they can't defer me. What can I do?

Unfortunately very little. The place belongs to the charity and they set the terms. Some charities will reassign the place to another fundraiser and allow you to run the following year if you maintain your fundraising commitment. Contact your charity as early as possible and explain your situation — the outcome varies significantly between organisations.

Can I defer if I'm pregnant?

Yes — pregnancy and the postpartum period is the one exception that applies across almost all entry types including Good For Age and Championship. Ballot and club places can defer to any year up to three years ahead. GFA and Championship holders who are pregnant or postpartum can defer to the same entry category without needing to re-qualify. Contact London Marathon Events directly to arrange this.

I entered the ballot in a previous year and didn't get in. Does applying again improve my odds?

No. The London Marathon ballot is a random draw each year with no rollover, loyalty points, or preference for repeat applicants. Each ballot is an independent draw. Your only advantage from previous unsuccessful applications is the experience of knowing exactly when to apply and how the process works.

When will the 2027 Good For Age qualifying times and window be announced?

The GFA qualifying times and window for 2027 will be announced after the 2026 race — typically in autumn 2026. The qualifying window usually runs for approximately 12 months, ending in September or October of the year before the event. Watch the official London Marathon website and set an alert for announcements in September–October 2026.