Double TCS London Marathon Ballot Results Revealed Today 2026

Key Points

• The 2027 TCS London Marathon will be a “double marathon” over Saturday 24 April and Sunday 25 April 2027, a world-first for the event.
• A record 1,338,544 people from the UK and around the world entered the ballot for 100,000 places (45,000 on Saturday and 55,000 on Sunday).
• Everyone who entered the ballot was automatically included in a random draw for both days; successful entrants will be told which day they have been allocated.
• Results are being sent by email to all applicants over the course of Thursday 9 July 2026, with emails coming throughout the day from no-reply@marketing.londonmarathonevents.co.uk.
• Applicants who have not received their result by 09:00 BST on Friday 10 July 2026 should contact London Marathon Events.
• Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, described the double marathon as “a weekend of celebration like no other in history” and a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for 100,000 people.
• Those not selected in the ballot can still run via charity places, which for 2027 only include the chance to run on the Saturday.
• Elite women, elite female para‑athletes and championship/“good for age” women will compete on one day, and their male equivalents on the other, with exact details to be confirmed.
• Organisers hope the expanded capacity will help raise more than £150 million for charities, with an estimated £400 million in social and economic benefit for the UK.
• London mayor Sadiq Khan said the one-off double will create “the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history”.

UK (Liverpool standard) July 09, 2026 – In a one-off historic expansion, the 2027 TCS London Marathon will take place over two consecutive days, accommodating a record 100,000 participants across the weekend of 24–25 April 2027, and ballot results for both days were announced today to the 1,338,544 people who entered the public draw.

The 2027 edition marks a radical departure from the traditional single-day format that has defined the TCS London Marathon for decades. As reported by the official London Marathon Events website, the event will span the weekend of 24–25 April 2027, with 45,000 runners on Saturday and 55,000 on Sunday, all running the same iconic course from Greenwich to Westminster.

Everyone who entered the 2027 ballot was automatically included in a random draw for both days, meaning each applicant effectively had two chances in one draw. Successful entrants will now discover which day they have been allocated and can begin planning travel, accommodation and training around either Saturday or Sunday. This dual-day allocation is a world-first for a major marathon and has been framed by organisers as a way to respond to unprecedented demand while maintaining the event’s safety and operational standards.

How Are Ballot Results Being Delivered and What Should Applicants Do?

Ballot results for the 2027 Double TCS London Marathon are being announced today, 9 July 2026, and are being sent by email to all applicants over the course of the day. According to London Marathon Events, emails are being dispatched throughout Thursday and may arrive at different times, so applicants who have not yet received a result should not panic.

Applicants are advised to check their junk or spam folders for an email from no-reply@marketing.londonmarathonevents.co.uk, as automated messages can sometimes be filtered. If a result has not been received by 09:00 BST on Friday 10 July 2026, the official guidance is to contact London Marathon Events for assistance. This process is designed to ensure that every ballot entrant, whether selected or not, receives clear information about their status and next steps.

Why Is the Marathon Being Split Over Two Days in 2027?

The decision to run the 2027 TCS London Marathon over two days is a direct response to record-breaking ballot demand and the event’s growing role as a fundraising engine for charities. In 2026, the marathon attracted more than 59,830 finishers and raised more than £90 million for charity, figures that underlined both the event’s popularity and its social impact.

A record 1.33 million people have already applied for the 2027 edition, far exceeding the places available in a single-day format. By expanding to two days and welcoming 100,000 participants, organisers aim to convert that demand into a vastly larger fundraising moment. Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, has estimated that more than £150 million could be raised for charities and good causes through the expanded edition, while the UK could benefit from £400 million in social and economic benefit.

London mayor Sadiq Khan described the move as a way to create “the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history” and to support the work of “so many incredible charities”. The two-day structure is explicitly framed as a one-off occurrence for 2027, with elite men, women and para-athletes, as well as championship and “good for age” runners, distributed across the weekend.

What Options Are Available for Those Not Selected in the Ballot?

For applicants who do not receive a place in the ballot, the main route into the 2027 TCS London Marathon remains through charity places. As noted by London Marathon Events, charity places for 2027 only include the chance to run on the Saturday, offering a targeted opportunity for those missed in the random draw.

Charity runners typically commit to raising a specified minimum amount for a registered charity in exchange for a guaranteed place. This model has been a cornerstone of the London Marathon for many years, enabling the event to support a wide range of causes while giving individuals a structured pathway to participate. The Saturday-only availability for charity places in 2027 means that those who secure a charity spot will run alongside the 45,000 ballot-selected runners on that day, contributing to the overall 100,000-participant total.

How Will Elite and Championship Racing Be Structured Across the Two Days?

The two-day format also affects how elite and championship racing will be organised. According to ESPN and other media covering the announcement, elite women, elite female para‑athletes, championship runners and “good for age” women will compete on one day, and their male equivalences on the other, with exact details to be confirmed.

This split is intended to preserve the integrity of elite competition while accommodating the larger number of mass-participation runners. By dividing the field by gender across the two days, organisers can manage crowd flow, broadcast scheduling and safety logistics more effectively, while still ensuring that the world’s top marathon runners compete on the same iconic course. Final scheduling, including start times and the order of elite races, will be provided by London Marathon Events in the coming months.

What Impact Could the Double Marathon Have on London and the Wider UK?

The expansion to 100,000 participants is expected to have significant economic and social consequences for London and the wider UK. With more runners, more supporters and more charity activity, the event is likely to generate higher levels of accommodation, transport, hospitality and retail spending across the capital over the weekend of 24–25 April 2027.

Organisers have estimated that the double marathon could deliver around £400 million in social and economic benefit for the UK, reflecting both direct spending and the broader value of health, community engagement and charitable fundraising. City and national leaders have welcomed the move as a way to showcase London as a global sporting capital while maximising the event’s contribution to public good through charity.

Background: Development of the 2027 Double TCS London Marathon

The decision to create a double marathon for 2027 emerged from a combination of record ballot demand, ambitious charity fundraising goals and operational considerations. In 2026, the TCS London Marathon drew more than 59,830 finishers and raised over £90 million for charity, setting new benchmarks for both participation and philanthropy.

By 2026, the public ballot had already attracted more than 1.1 million applications, with 1,338,544 people entering for 2027, highlighting a sustained and growing desire to run the event. Rather than further tightening eligibility criteria or reducing the number of places, London Marathon Events chose to expand capacity by running the race over two days, a move described as a “world-first” and a “one-off” experiment for 2027.

The concept was officially confirmed in June 2026, with the weekend of 24–25 April 2027 set as the date for the double marathon. The announcement was supported by London mayor Sadiq Khan and senior figures in the UK sports and charity sectors, who highlighted the potential for the event to become the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history.

Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Runners, Charities and Local Communities

For runners, the double marathon fundamentally changes access and planning. With 100,000 places available across two days, the likelihood of being selected in the ballot increases compared to a single-day event, but the randomness of the draw means that many applicants will still be disappointed. Those who secure a place will need to decide early whether to train and travel for Saturday or Sunday, which may affect accommodation costs, flight options and family arrangements, particularly for international runners.

For charities, the expanded capacity offers a clear opportunity to raise substantially more money. With more runners able to commit to fundraising targets, the potential to exceed the £90 million raised in 2026 and approach the £150 million target outlined by Hugh Brasher is plausible, provided participation and completion rates remain high. However, charities will also face increased competition for runner attention and may need to adjust their outreach and support strategies to handle a larger pool of fundraisers across two days.

For local communities in London and surrounding areas, the double marathon will likely bring heightened footfall, traffic management needs and economic activity over a longer period. While this can boost local businesses and create a sense of shared celebration, it also places additional pressure on public transport, road networks and emergency services, particularly on both Saturday and Sunday. If the event is managed effectively, the two-day format could set a precedent for how major sporting events balance scale, safety and community impact, potentially influencing future planning for other large-scale races in the UK and beyond.