What is the Double London Marathon?
The proposal — referred to internally by London Marathon Events as the "Double London Marathon" — would split the 2027 race across the weekend of 24 and 25 April 2027, with 50,000 mass-participation runners on Saturday and 50,000 on Sunday. The elite fields would also be separated: the elite women's race and wheelchair events on one day, the elite men's race on the other.
This would make 2027 a one-off special edition of the event — not a permanent change to the race calendar. Organisers have been clear that it would be a single-year experiment rather than a structural shift.
The two-day format requires sign-off from the Mayor of London's office, Transport for London, and the relevant borough councils. London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher told BBC Breakfast he hopes for a final decision by the end of May 2026. The Mayor of London has indicated support in principle. This page will be updated as soon as an official decision is made.
Why is this happening now?
Demand has simply outgrown the current format. 1,338,544 people entered the 2027 ballot when it opened on 24 April 2026 — a new record, surpassing the 1,133,813 who entered for 2026 and more than double the 578,304 who applied just three years ago. With roughly 50,000 places in total and only around 17,000 going to the public ballot, the success rate has dropped to approximately 1 in 25.
The 2026 race also provided an extraordinary catalyst. On Sunday 26 April, Kenya's Sabastian Sawe became the first man in history to run a legal sub-two-hour marathon, finishing in 1:59:30 — 65 seconds under the previous world record. Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa defended her women's crown in 2:15:41, also a world record. Three men in the top three finished in times faster than the previous world record. The 2026 race was, by any measure, one of the greatest marathons ever run — and the 2027 ballot entries reflect that.
Sabastian Sawe, 1:59:30 — first legal sub-2 hour marathon. Yomif Kejelcha, 1:59:41 — second fastest ever and fastest marathon debut ever. Tigst Assefa, 2:15:41 — women-only world record. Three of the top six finished faster than Kiptum's previous world record. 59,830 finishers. £87.3M raised for charity. If you watched that race, you understand why 1.33 million people entered the next one.
What it means for your ballot odds
If the two-day format is approved, all 2027 ballot entrants are automatically entered into draws for both Saturday and Sunday — though each runner can only race one day. This effectively doubles your chance of getting a place.
At current numbers:
- 1,338,544 total applicants
- Current single-day format: ~17,000 ballot places → roughly 1 in 79 odds
- Two-day format (if approved): ~34,000 ballot places across both days → roughly 1 in 39 odds
- Plus the "Double Your Chances" second draw for UK runners who opted in — doubling again
Even with a two-day format, roughly 1 in 25 to 1 in 40 applicants will get a place. The pool of runners who want London is growing faster than the event can scale. Charity entry remains the most reliable route for runners who need certainty — London works with 300+ partner charities, with fundraising minimums typically starting around £2,000.
What the two-day format means for accommodation
This is where the two-day format changes things significantly for anyone planning race weekend. A single-day race means most runners arrive Friday or Saturday and leave Sunday. A two-day race means:
- Runners arrive across both Friday and Saturday depending on their race day assignment
- Two nights of demand instead of one — Saturday race runners need Friday + Saturday accommodation; Sunday runners need Saturday + Sunday
- Total accommodation demand roughly doubles for the race weekend window — already the most competitive hotel weekend in London each year
- The spectator opportunity doubles too — friends and family who want to watch both elite races could attend both days
London Marathon weekend is historically the most booked hotel weekend in the city. With 100,000 runners (vs 50,000 currently), plus their families and supporters, the accommodation squeeze gets significantly tighter. BibBuddy hosts near the start line (Greenwich Park) or finish line (The Mall) for race weekend — list a spare room, spare bed, or your whole place while you race. See the London Marathon accommodation guide for options across all distances and budgets.
What happens to the elite races
Under the proposed two-day format, the elite fields would be split across the two days — the elite women's race and wheelchair events on one day, the elite men's race on the other. Each day would retain its own BBC broadcast window and its own identity.
The 2026 race demonstrated what elite London can produce — three men finished inside the previous world record in the same race. Whether splitting the elite fields across two days dilutes or enhances that drama remains to be seen. Some argue that a standalone women's race, with its own broadcast and crowd, would elevate the women's event. Others suggest the atmosphere of a combined day is irreplaceable.
Decision timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 24 Apr – 1 May 2026 | 2027 ballot open. 1,338,544 entries — new record. |
| End of May 2026 | Two-day format decision expected from Mayor / TfL / borough councils. |
| Early July 2026 | Ballot results emailed. Successful entrants confirmed for 2027. |
| Sat 24 Apr 2027 | Day 1 (if two-day approved) — or single-day race not applicable. |
| Sun 25 Apr 2027 | Day 2 (if two-day) or single-day race. |
Charity entry — still available now
The ballot is closed, but charity entry is still open. London works with 300+ partner charities. The typical fundraising minimum is around £2,000, though this varies by charity and the amount of interest remaining. If you want a 2027 place and didn't get in through the ballot, contacting charities now — in May 2026 — gives you the best chance of securing a place before allocations fill.
See the full London Marathon 2027 guide for a complete rundown of entry types, deferral rules, and what to do if you have a place and can't race.
Frequently asked questions
Has the two-day format been confirmed?
No — as of May 2026 it is still under discussion. Formal approval requires sign-off from the Mayor of London, Transport for London, and borough councils. CEO Hugh Brasher has said he expects a decision by end of May 2026. This page will be updated when confirmed.
If approved, which day would I run?
That hasn't been specified yet — it would presumably be assigned after ballot results are confirmed, likely in July 2026. All ballot entrants would be automatically entered into draws for both days. You can only run one day.
The ballot is closed. Can I still get a 2027 place?
Yes — charity entry is still open. Contact London Marathon partner charities directly. The typical fundraising minimum is around £2,000. Good For Age entry may also open for qualifying runners — watch the official site for the 2027 qualifying window announcement after the 2026 race.
When do ballot results come out?
Ballot results will be emailed by early July 2026. Successful entrants will be notified directly. There is no way to check your status before the results are sent.
I have a 2027 place and can't race. What are my options?
No person-to-person transfers are permitted. Ballot places can be deferred to 2028 until the night before race day. See the full can't-run guide for all options by entry type.
Planning race weekend in London?
100,000 runners over two days means accommodation demand doubles. BibBuddy connects runners with hosts near the start and finish line — spare rooms, shared flats, whole places for race weekend.
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