The 2027 ballot — what just happened
The 2027 TCS London Marathon ballot opened at 09:00 BST on Friday 24 April 2026 and closed at 16:00 BST on Friday 1 May 2026. 1,338,544 people entered — a new record, up from 1,133,813 for 2026, and more than double the 578,304 who applied just three years ago.
The surge followed one of the most extraordinary races in marathon history. On 26 April 2026, Kenya's Sabastian Sawe became the first man ever to run a legal sub-two-hour marathon (1:59:30), with three men in the top six all finishing faster than the previous world record. Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her women's crown in a world record 2:15:41. If you watched that race and then entered the ballot, you understand exactly why 1.33 million other people did the same thing.
For the first time in the race's history, more than one million applicants came from inside the UK alone. Roughly half were women. Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, called the total "astonishing" and said it "firmly establishes London as the world's most sought-after marathon. Nothing else comes close."
If you entered — what happens now
The draw is completely random. Results were emailed to all applicants on Thursday 9 July 2026, sent in batches through the day rather than as a single announcement. Successful entrants then had until 16:00 BST on Friday 31 July 2026 to confirm their details and secure the place — a deadline that caught out anyone who filed the email and forgot about it. If you missed it, the place is gone and re-entry is via the routes below.
| Outcome | What happens |
|---|---|
| Successful (standard ballot) | Email confirmation with payment instructions, then a confirm-your-details deadline of 16:00 BST 31 July 2026. UK entry fee: £79.99. International: £275 (includes the carbon offset levy for international travel). |
| Successful (Double Your Chances) | Entry confirmed and paid (£49.99 already submitted). Place is yours. |
| Unsuccessful — entered Double Your Chances | Automatically entered into the second draw. Results also landed 9 July. Fee becomes a gift to the London Marathon Foundation if unsuccessful in both. |
| Unsuccessful | Email notification. Charity entry is still open — see below. |
The two-day format — what it means for your odds
It's confirmed. For one year only, the 2027 TCS London Marathon runs across Saturday 24 April and Sunday 25 April 2027, with 100,000 runners across the two days instead of the usual single-day field — 45,000 on the Saturday and 55,000 on the Sunday.
Every ballot entrant was automatically included in a random draw for both days, so successful applicants found out on 9 July not only that they were in, but which day they'd been allocated. The expanded field is why the headline odds landed at roughly 1 in 13 — about 7.5% — rather than the far longer odds a normal single-day London ballot produces at this application volume.
UK runners who opted into the Double Your Chances option (£49.99, second draw if unsuccessful in first) could have up to four draws if the two-day format is approved — the main ballot on both days, and the second draw on both days. The two-day decision lands before ballot results are announced in July.
See the full two-day format explainer for what a 100,000-runner race weekend would mean for accommodation, elite races, and logistics.
If you missed the ballot
The public ballot is closed, but London 2027 is not out of reach. Several entry routes remain available:
| Route | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charity entry | ✅ Open now | 300+ partner charities. Fundraising minimum typically ~£2,000. Contact charities now — earlier is better as allocations fill. |
| Good For Age (GFA) | ⏳ Watch official site | UK residents only. 6,000 places (3,000 per gender), awarded fastest-first. 2027 qualifying window announced after the 2026 race. |
| Tour Operator packages | ✅ Some available | International runners can access some allocations. Check the official London Marathon licensed tour operators list. |
Charity allocations fill throughout the year. The most popular charities fill fastest. Waiting until September or October significantly reduces your options. If you want London 2027, contact charities in May or June while allocations are still available.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly will ballot results be sent?
They already have. Results went out by email on Thursday 9 July 2026, processed in batches through the day rather than as a single announcement. Successful entrants then had to confirm their details by 16:00 BST on Friday 31 July 2026 to secure the place.
I entered "Double Your Chances." What does that mean?
You're in the same main ballot as everyone else. If not selected in the first draw, you're automatically entered into a second draw. Both run before July results. Your £49.99 is already paid — if you get a place, it's confirmed. If unsuccessful in both draws, you receive a thank-you gift.
I got a place. Can I defer or transfer it?
Ballot places can be deferred to 2028 at any time up until 23:59 the night before race day. No person-to-person transfers are permitted. See the full can't-run guide for complete details by entry type.
What are my odds of getting in?
Roughly 1 in 13, or about 7.5% — 100,000 places drawn from 1,338,544 applications. That's unusually generous by London's standards, and only because 2027 is a two-day Double; a normal single-day field at this application volume would be several times longer. Double Your Chances entrants had better odds again, via a second draw. Charity entry remains the only route to a guaranteed place.
Why were there so many entries for 2027?
The 2026 race was one of the greatest marathons ever run. Sabastian Sawe ran 1:59:30 — the first legal sub-two-hour marathon. Yomif Kejelcha ran 1:59:41 in his marathon debut. Tigst Assefa broke her own women's world record in 2:15:41. 59,830 runners crossed the finish line. When a race produces something like that, the next ballot follows.
Got a place and need somewhere to stay?
London Marathon weekend is the most competitive accommodation weekend in the city. BibBuddy connects runners with hosts near the start and finish line — race weekend stays, spare rooms, shared flats.
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