London Marathon 2027 Two-Day Format — What It Means for You

What is the Double London Marathon?

The Double — London Marathon Events' name for it — splits the 2027 race across the weekend of 24 and 25 April 2027. The final split is 45,000 runners on the Saturday and 55,000 on the Sunday, for 100,000 across the two days. That's a world first: no marathon has run a mass-participation field of this size across a weekend before.

2027 is a one-off special edition, not a permanent change to the race calendar. Organisers have been consistent that this is a single-year event rather than a structural shift, so if you want to run a Double London, this is the year it exists.

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.

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 Double as run: 100,000 places across both days from 1,338,544 applications → roughly 1 in 13 odds, about 7.5%
• Plus the "Double Your Chances" second draw for UK runners who opted in — doubling again

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

What happens to the elite races

Splitting the elite fields across the two days has been part of the Double's design from the start, giving each day its own broadcast window and its own identity rather than one day carrying the whole event. Confirm the final elite schedule on the official site closer to the race, as the detailed day-by-day programme is published nearer the time.

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

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?

Yes. The 2027 TCS London Marathon runs across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, with 100,000 runners across the two days — 45,000 on the Saturday and 55,000 on the Sunday. The ballot was drawn on that basis and results went out on 9 July 2026.

Which day will I run?

Your day was assigned in the draw itself. Every ballot entrant was automatically entered into a random draw for both days, so the 9 July results email confirmed both that you had a place and which day you'd been allocated. You run one day only — you don't choose, and it isn't swappable between runners.

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.