Why you can't transfer your bib
London Marathon is one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors. As part of that series, entries are strictly non-transferable — no person-to-person swaps, gifts, or sales. This applies to all entry types. London sits alongside the world's biggest road races:
The reasoning is structural: your bib carries your identity, medical information, emergency contact, and chip timing data. Transferring it to someone else creates safety risks and undermines the ballot system. The policy is not going to change.
Running under someone else's name risks disqualification for both parties, a ban from future London Marathon entries, and a genuine safety risk on course if something goes wrong and paramedics have the wrong medical information. It's not worth it — and the seller may be attempting to scam you.
Option 1 — Defer to 2027 Best outcome if eligible
If you have a ballot place, deferral is your best outcome by far. A guaranteed London Marathon entry for 2027 — without re-entering the ballot — has real value given the odds. Here's exactly how to do it.
If you entered through the ballot, you can defer for any reason — injury, work, family, changed plans, or simply being unable to race. No documentation required. You can only defer once.
How: Wait for the official email with your Manage My Booking link. Submit before 23:59 on 25 April 2026. Pay the 2026 entry fee again (UK runners) or an adjusted fee (international). You'll receive email confirmation of your guaranteed 2027 place.
Club places and stakeholder places (local authority, emergency services etc.) are eligible to defer through the standard process — same steps as ballot runners.
GFA and Championship places can only defer if you are pregnant or postpartum. For these entry types, the deferral is enhanced — you can defer to any of the next three years (2027, 2028, or 2029) and your GFA or Championship status is preserved without re-qualifying.
If you're injured or unable to race for other reasons and hold a GFA place, the deferral option is not available. You'll need to contact the organisers directly and make a compassionate case.
The deferral decision for charity places rests with the charity, not London Marathon. Contact your specific charity as early as possible. Many will allow deferral if you've raised a percentage of your fundraising target. Each organisation handles this differently — some are flexible, some aren't.
These entry types typically can't be deferred through the official London Marathon system. Contact your provider directly — some operators have internal policies, but there's no guarantee. Worth asking, but manage your expectations.
Option 2 — Charity place rules
Charity places exist in a specific grey area when it comes to London Marathon's transfer policy. The entries are held by the charity organisation, not by individual runners — which gives the charity some flexibility that individual entrants don't have.
If you hold a charity place and can't run:
- Contact your charity immediately — don't wait until close to race day
- Be honest about your situation. Most charities would rather find a replacement runner than lose the fundraising opportunity entirely
- You may still be responsible for any fundraising minimum you committed to, even if you don't run
- The charity may be able to redirect the place to another runner from their own waitlist who can take over the commitment
If you need a London Marathon charity place and missed the ballot:
- Charity entries are now the primary legitimate route into London Marathon for runners who don't make the ballot
- Fundraising minimums vary widely — typically £500–2,000+ depending on the charity and their allocation
- Contact charities as soon as ballot results are announced. Popular charities' allocations fill within days
- Most large UK charities — British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan, Alzheimer's Research — hold London Marathon places. Check their websites or contact their events teams directly
Option 3 — Contact the organisers directly
Major events occasionally make compassionate exceptions outside their published policy — serious illness, bereavement, pregnancy complications that fall outside standard terms. These are handled quietly on a case-by-case basis. There's no guarantee, but it costs nothing to try.
Be specific, be honest, and provide documentation if you have it. A GP letter confirming injury, a hospital letter confirming illness, or a similar piece of documentation goes a long way. Race organisers are human — they understand that life happens. Don't ask for a refund. Ask for a deferral and explain why your circumstances warrant consideration.
Option 4 — Forfeit and move forward
Sometimes the honest answer is that the entry fee is lost and there's nothing to be done about it. That's genuinely hard — especially after months of training. Give yourself the space to feel disappointed. Then start thinking about what comes next.
A DNS (did not start) carries no negative consequences for future ballot eligibility. You won't be penalised or banned from entering again. The 2027 ballot opens during the 2026 race weekend — register the moment it opens if you want to be back.
Being injured or unable to race after months of training is one of the harder things in sport. The running community gets it in a way most people don't. BibBuddy's community is a good place to find others navigating the same situation — and to get leads on charity places or advice from runners who've been there.
Still want London? How to get back in for 2027
Your options for London Marathon 2027, in order of likelihood:
- Enter the 2027 ballot — it opens during the 2026 race weekend (late April 2026). Register immediately. Odds are roughly 1 in 16 for UK runners, better for international applicants.
- Charity place — the most reliable route for runners who repeatedly miss the ballot. Start contacting charities as soon as 2027 ballot results are announced (typically October/November 2026). Expect £500–2,000+ fundraising minimum.
- Good For Age — if your marathon PB is within the qualifying standards for your age group, you have a guaranteed entry pathway. Check the current GFA standards on the official London Marathon website.
- Tour operator package — international runners and those happy to pay a premium can secure guaranteed entry through official tour operators, typically £800–2,500+ including accommodation.
- Deferred entry (if you applied) — if you've deferred your 2026 place, you already have your 2027 entry sorted. Don't forget to pay the deferral fee when instructed.
Connect with the London running community
Find charity entry leads, get advice from runners who've navigated the same situation, and discover your best Plan B race. BibBuddy's community is free to join.
Join the BibBuddy WaitlistBest Plan B races in the UK for 2027
You trained hard. That fitness shouldn't go to waste. Here are the strongest alternative races for runners who can't make London — ranging from "almost as good" to "genuinely great in their own right."
The second-biggest marathon in England and the strongest Plan B available. Manchester drew 36,000+ runners in 2025 (42,000 expected in 2026) on a flat, fast, PB-friendly course — and race day in Manchester has an atmosphere that rivals London for crowd support and city energy. The 2027 race falls on 13 April, just one week before London, which means your training peak lines up almost perfectly. Official hotel partner: Hyatt Hotels Manchester (steps from the Oxford Road finish). Entries open in April and sell out in minutes — set an alert. Full Manchester Marathon guide →
Scenic seafront course with a famously festive atmosphere. One of the most enjoyable marathon experiences in the UK — fast, flat by the sea, with brilliant crowd support throughout. Entries fill well in advance. A strong option for runners who want the full marathon experience in a city that truly gets behind its runners.
One of the fastest marathon courses in Europe — a largely downhill route from Edinburgh city centre along the East Lothian coast. Beautiful scenery, excellent organisation, and consistently fast finishing times make it a popular choice for PB chasers and first-timers alike. The late May date gives a little extra recovery time if you're coming back from injury.
Not a marathon, but arguably the most exciting road race in the UK. 60,000 runners, the best crowd of any UK road race, and a genuinely iconic point-to-point route from Newcastle city centre to the North Sea at South Shields. If you need an emotional lift after missing London, the Great North Run delivers it in spades. Ballot-based entry — apply early.
Frequently asked questions
No. London Marathon entries are strictly non-transferable. You cannot sell, give, or swap your bib with any other runner. Unofficial swaps risk disqualification and a future entry ban for both parties.
If you have a ballot place, apply for a deferral — you can defer for any reason including injury, no documentation required, and your place carries to 2027 guaranteed. GFA runners unfortunately cannot defer due to injury (only pregnancy). The deferral deadline is 23:59 on 25 April 2026.
No. London Marathon entry fees are non-refundable. This is standard across all Abbott World Marathon Majors. Deferral is the closest available alternative — your money effectively moves to a 2027 entry rather than being returned.
Your entry fee is forfeited and the place is wasted. There are no negative consequences for a DNS in terms of future ballot eligibility or bans. But if you're eligible to defer, always defer rather than simply not showing up — a guaranteed 2027 entry has real value given the ballot odds.
Contact your charity directly as soon as possible. Many charities allow deferral if you've raised a percentage of your fundraising target, but each organisation has its own policy. The charity holds the place, not London Marathon — so this is their decision, not the event organiser's.
The adidas Manchester Marathon on 19 April 2026 — exactly one week before London. It's the second-biggest marathon in England, flat and fast, with a brilliant city-centre atmosphere. Your training peak aligns perfectly with the date. It genuinely rivals London for race day experience.