Runners criticize Copenhagen Marathon's new lottery-based registration, organizers face backlash

Sparta Atletik & Løb opened registration for the 2027 Copenhagen Marathon on Wednesday, May 13, by switching to a lottery system instead of first-come, first-served sales. The change drew immediate criticism from runners in comments highlighted by Danish tabloid B.T., with some calling for a boycott and others saying they would run other races instead. A second change — ending the event’s resale platform and making bibs non-transferable — drew a separate round of complaints. Sparta said the new process was meant to give runners an equal chance after the 2026 race sold out in 23 hours. ### Why are runners angry about the 2027 signup? B.T. reported on May 14 that runners were reacting to two changes announced by organizer Sparta on Facebook the previous day: a lottery for entries and the removal of resale. One commenter described the lottery as “ridiculous,” while another said they had signed up for Hamburg instead. B.T. also reported that some users discussed skipping Copenhagen Marathon in protest. (bt.dk) The criticism was not one-sided. B.T. said some runners also supported the lottery and viewed it as fairer than the old first-come model, which favored people who were online at the right moment when registration opened. ### What exactly changed in the new system? Copenhagen Marathon’s official site said entries for the 2027 race will now be allocated through a lottery that opened at 10:00 a.m. (bt.dk) CET on May 13 and runs through June 3. The site said it is free to enter the lottery, that each person can enter once, and that runners can apply in groups of up to three so they are either selected together or not selected at all. The official rules also say selected runners will be notified by email and then have 48 hours to complete registration and payment. The organizer said bibs will become personal and cannot be transferred. ### Why did the resale issue trigger such a strong reaction? B.T. said the end of the resale platform became a flashpoint because runners had previously been able to sell their bibs safely if injury or other problems kept them from starting. (copenhagenmarathon.dk) One commenter quoted by the paper said: “No resale? And no waiting list? … In my eyes it has become a money machine.” Copenhagen Marathon’s official site said the resale platform would be replaced by an insurance option. The organizer said the platform was no longer needed because entries under the lottery system would be personal and non-transferable. The site also said Copenhagen Marathon had become part of the European Marathon Classics series, where resale platforms are not used. (bt.dk) ### What is Sparta’s explanation for the overhaul? Copenhagen Marathon said demand had risen sharply in recent years and that the 2026 edition sold out in just 23 hours. The organizer said the lottery was intended to create “a fairer and more equal process” for runners regardless of where they live or when they are available to register. (copenhagenmarathon.dk) TV 2 Kosmopol quoted Sparta Atletik & Løb as saying it understood the frustration and knew runners were concerned about whether they could secure a place under the new system. Sparta nevertheless said it believed the new model was a more just way to allocate entries after many people were shut out this year when bibs disappeared so quickly. ### How big has Copenhagen Marathon become? (copenhagenmarathon.dk) B.T. reported in May 2025 that 23,000 runners had registered for the 2026 race before it sold out in record time. That figure helps explain why organizers moved away from a straight speed-of-click registration process. TV 2 Kosmopol reported after the 2026 race that metro lines M3 and M4 carried 283,000 passengers during the marathon period, citing Metroselskabet. (bt.dk) The outlet said that was the second-highest passenger count ever recorded on those lines. ### What happens next for runners who still want in? June 3 is the deadline to enter the Copenhagen Marathon 2027 lottery, according to the race website. (bt.dk) After that, selected runners will receive email instructions and have 48 hours to pay and confirm their place, while entries will remain personal under the new rules. (copenhagenmarathon.dk) (tv2kosmopol.dk)