How to Enter the Ballot for the London Marathon 2027
All the info you need to know if you fancy taking on the 26.2 mile challengeThe London Marathon is one of the most famous races in the world; over 56,600 runners finished the 2026 marathon, a record-breaking number of participants. If you want to give it a go, you can get your name in the mix for next year’s race by entering the ballot.When does the 2027 London Marathon ballot open?The draw for the 2027 London Marathon opened before this year’s race even begun, meaning it’s open right now and it closes at 4pm on Fri 1st May. That means you have less than a week to get your name in the mix.What are the chances of securing a place in the 2027 London Marathon?The London Marathon is extremely popular – a record-breaking 1,133,813 people applied for a place for this year’s race and there are only around 17,000 ballot places available. The ballot is drawn at random so although the chances of actually getting one might be slim, everyone’s in the same boat, and you’ve gotta be in it to win it! It’s not been confirmed yet but there are talks of making the 2027 event a two-day affair to accommodate more runners, so you may have a better chance of getting a spot.How does the 2027 London Marathon ballot work?The entry fee for the London Marathon is £79.99, and if you opt to donate your entry fee to the London Marathon Foundation and you secure a ballot place, the figure gets reduced to £49.99. If you’re unsuccessful in the first ballot, you’ll automatically go into a second draw, and then if you still don’t bag a spot and you’ve donated your fee, you’ll receive a London Marathon training top as thanks for your donation. The ballot results will be emailed to entrants in July 2026.What happens if you get a place for the 2027 London Marathon?If you do manage to score a ballot place, and you’ve opted to donate your fee, your entry is prepaid and confirmed. If you’ve secured a place without the donation, you’ll need to pay the full entry fee of £79.99 (a deadline will be specified for this after the ballot has been drawn). And then it’s time to get training!Key InformationDates | Until Fri 1st May 2026For more information | londonmarathonevents.co.uk
