The London Marathon will expand to a two-day event for its 2027 edition next year as more than 100,000 participants will take the race — and majors — into unprecedented territory.
Organizers confirmed on Friday that the race, called The Double, will be a one-off event scheduled for April 24 and 25, 2027 and could easily surpass its own world record for finishers after edging past New York with 59,830 participants in this year’s showcase.
“By expanding to 100,000 runners across two days, we’re opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world’s greatest marathon,” Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events said. “We believe that more than £150m can be raised for good causes and the UK economy will have a £400m social and economic benefit.”
The Double is set to create the largest fundraising moment in UK history and is structured to staged the women’s elite race on the same day as the women’s para athletes, championship and ‘good for age’ women groups. The other day of action will host the men’s elite field, men’s elite para athletes, championship and ‘good for age’ men. The exact format and schedule will be revealed in the coming months, according to London Marathon Events.
“This unique, one-off double will allow a record 100,000 participants to take part across the two days – creating the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history and supporting the work of so many incredible charities,” London mayor Sadiq Khan said. “The London Marathon showcases the very best of our capital and we will continue working closely with London Marathon Events and our partners to ensure appropriate measures are in place for the entire weekend as we build a better, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Talk of a two-day marathon emerged in March when organizers said they were “always exploring innovative ways to enable more people” to bring positive things to London.
But with the drastic change for next year’s race, London is pushing ahead of the other marathon majors following a record breaking event in April where Sabastian Sawe became the first person to officially run under two hours in 1:59:30.
And some of of the record nearly 60,000 participants collected 38 titles along course, according to Guinness World Records, like the fastest marathon wearing a suit and dress shoes or fastest marathon in a firefighter’s uniform.
Race officials also said that everyone who applied for next year’s event will be entered into a ballot for both the Saturday and Sunday races, increasing their chances to secure a bib.
A record 1.33 million people entered the 2027 ballot, easily surpassing the 1.13 million who applied for this year’s race.
