London: Organizers of the London Marathon announced that the 2027 edition will be held over two days for the first time in the event's history, as part of plans to expand participation and enhance the race's global profile. Under the new format, the elite women's race will take place on Saturday, while the elite men's race will be held on Sunday. The move aims to improve competition and accommodate a record target of 100,000 runners. The 47th edition of the marathon is scheduled for 24-25 April 2027.
According to Qatar News Agency, by expanding participation to 100,000 runners over two days, London Marathon CEO Hugh Brasher said they are opening the door for more individuals, charities, and communities to take part in the greatest marathon in the world. He added that the expansion could help raise more than EUR 150 million (USD 200 million) for charitable causes. The 2026 London Marathon raised a record EUR 90 million, reinforcing its status as the world's largest single-day fundraising event.
Organizers also revealed that a record 1.33 million people entered the public ballot for the 2027 race, an 18 percent increase over the previous record.