London Marathon surge
A record 1.1 million people applied in the public ballot for the 2026 TCS London Marathon, a 36% increase on the previous year, and organisers are considering running the event over two days in 2027 to cope with demand (runabc.co.uk). Practical details about date, route, road closures and spectator guidance are being circulated now as the race approaches in the coming weeks (mylondon.news).
More than 1.13 million people applied for a place in the 2026 TCS London Marathon, the biggest public ballot the race has ever recorded. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) London Marathon Events said 1,133,813 applications came in for the race on Sunday, 26 April 2026, up from the previous ballot record of 840,318 for the 2025 edition. That works out to a 35% rise year over year, based on the organiser’s published totals. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The ballot was so oversubscribed that fewer than 5% of applicants got in, according to runabc’s report on the results published after places were allocated in June 2025. (runabc.co.uk) Organisers are now exploring whether to spread the London Marathon across two days in 2027, a move widely reported as a way to lift the field toward 100,000 runners. London Marathon Events has not yet published a formal 2027 race format on its main event page. (independent.co.uk, londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The pressure is not only on runners trying to get in. London Marathon Events says the race is the world’s biggest annual one-day fundraising event, and the 2026 weekend already includes the TCS Mini London Marathon on Saturday, 25 April, followed by the main marathon on Sunday, 26 April. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk, londonmarathonevents.co.uk) As race day gets closer, organisers are circulating practical guidance for residents and spectators across the course. Official road-closure notices say the 46th edition will bring road closures and parking restrictions across areas including Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Southwark, Westminster and St James’s Park. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk, londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The route still runs from the Blackheath start through landmarks including Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf before finishing near The Mall and St James’s Park. Visit London’s 2026 guide lists elite wheelchair racing from 8:50 a.m. and the elite women’s race from 9:05 a.m. on 26 April. (visitlondon.com, londonmarathonevents.co.uk) Spectators are being told to plan meeting points in advance and not rely only on mobile service in crowded areas. London Marathon Events says some parts of the course get extremely busy, and its frequently asked questions page says the official app for runner tracking should be available about 10 days before event day. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk, londonmarathonevents.co.uk) For now, the 2026 race remains a one-day event on Sunday, 26 April. The bigger question is whether record demand turns the 2027 London Marathon into a full weekend race. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk, independent.co.uk)
