Organizers of the London Marathon, along with their partners, are considering the possibility of extending the event to span two days in 2027.
While no decisions have been finalized or officially approved, these discussions align with the organizers‘ goal of increasing participation in the marathon, which has garnered support from the mayor’s office.
The London Marathon is recognized as the most popular marathon globally, with a staggering 1,133,813 individuals entering the ballot for the 2026 race, setting a new world record.
“The TCS London Marathon is the world’s most popular marathon, and we are continually exploring innovative ways to enable more people to take part, while delivering positive benefits for London,” stated a spokesperson for London Marathon Events.
“Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are looking at the intention for the 2027 TCS London Marathon to take place across two days. No approval has been given at this stage.”
In 2025, a record 56,640 participants successfully completed the marathon, raising £87.3 million for various charities.
The number of applicants for the race has surged in recent years. The 1.13 million entries for the 2026 ballot marked a 36 percent increase from the 840,318 applicants in 2025. The 2024 race saw 578,304 individuals apply through the ballot.
Organizing the marathon necessitates extensive road closures and public transport disruptions due to the large crowds that gather throughout the day across the city. The race commences in Greenwich, located in southeast London, and concludes on The Mall in St. James’s Park in the heart of the capital.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London remarked, “London is the sporting capital of the world and the Mayor looks forward to working with London Marathon and partners to consider if it might be possible to host an event that will run across two days next year.”
The inaugural London Marathon took place in 1981 and is part of the World Marathon Majors series, which includes Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, New York, and Chicago. Sydney officially joined as the seventh major marathon in 2025.
The upcoming 2026 London Marathon is scheduled for April 26.
Bildquelle: ai-generated-gemini
