London Marathon expansion plan
Organizers are reportedly exploring a plan to expand the London Marathon into a two‑day event in 2027 to accommodate as many as 100,000 runners, according to reports. (theguardian.com) The proposal would be a major reshuffle for a World Marathon Major and could reshape mass‑participation logistics across global races. (nytimes.com)
Reports say the proposal — reportedly nicknamed the “Double London Marathon” internally — would split the field into roughly 50,000 runners on Saturday 24 April and 50,000 on Sunday 25 April 2027. (telegraph.co.uk) City Hall has been described as supportive in briefings and a London Marathon Events spokesperson said organisers are “continually exploring innovative ways” to enable more people to take part while delivering benefits for the capital. (news.sky.com) Organisers point to surging demand after a world‑record 1,133,813 people entered the public ballot for the 2026 race, a figure London Marathon Events published as of May 2025. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The race’s fundraising scale is a factor: the 2025 event recorded 56,540 finishers and raised about £87.3m for charity, and some reports say organisers hope a two‑day weekend could push charitable income past £130m. (news.sky.com) (marathonhandbook.com) Media coverage says the plan would also allow the elite men’s and women’s races to be staged on separate days — a format not used by any World Marathon Major to date — though nothing has been formally approved. (telegraph.co.uk) (espn.com) Organisers told outlets their “immediate focus” remains delivering the 2026 TCS London Marathon on Sunday 26 April 2026 and that the two‑day concept is still under assessment with partners and stakeholders. (therunningchannel.com) (news.sky.com)
