Two-day London – London Marathon organisers want a two-day format in 2027. Here’s how it could work, who it could help, and why London residents are wary.
London’s marathon organisers are floating a bold idea for 2027: turning the race weekend into a two-day event, with a fresh mass start on both Saturday and Sunday.
A 2027 ‘two-day’ weekend—if permission is granted
At the centre of the debate is the question of “innovative” format versus what makes the London Marathon feel special. Hugh Brasher, head of London Marathon Events, has framed the proposal as a one-off concept—an experiment designed to meet modern demand while protecting the identity of the race.
That matters in a city where the marathon is not just a sporting event, but a shared ritual.. Since the first race in 1981. London’s marathon has grown into one of the world’s biggest sporting days. and the atmosphere on the course—made by residents and supporters—has long been part of its worldwide appeal.
How a two-day race could be structured
The entry and ballot mechanics are designed to keep things simple for applicants while still spreading demand.. The ballot for the 2027 event would be open and. once applied. entrants would be automatically entered for both Saturday and Sunday.. If someone is selected in the lottery. they would then be allocated to one day—so runners would not be placed into both.
Organisers also plan to make space for charity places and good-for-age categories across both days. Overall participation would be capped at up to 50,000 people per day, with organisers aiming for a balanced split across the weekend.
Elite scheduling would also change slightly: men’s and elite women’s races would be staged on separate days, rather than together as typically happens across a single-day format.
In the background, logistics and safety planning would be intense.. The marathon route passes through multiple boroughs and affects emergency services and transport.. Around 800. 000 people travel across London on marathon day. and the prospect of adding a whole extra day of street closures would raise the stakes even higher.
A key part of the planning process, according to Brasher, would involve consultations with emergency services, police, ambulance and fire brigade teams, alongside Transport for London and local authorities.
The ‘why’: demand. Gen Z. and a push for real-life community
Interest is also changing in ways that organisers believe a two-day format could respond to.. They have data on a surge in Gen Z participation, especially women aged 18 to 29.. In that demographic. there has been a noticeable momentum since last year. alongside a shift in how people want to experience events: more “IRL” or in-real-life moments. rather than purely digital entertainment.
Running has surged in popularity since the pandemic, and running clubs have become a kind of community hub.. For many people, the social aspect—finding a “team” or “tribe”—is as powerful as the training plan itself.. Andrew Smith. a former race director who is now CEO of a Manchester Marathon organiser. describes marathon running as the “pinnacle” of that journey: months of training culminating in a day where participants feel seen and supported.
A longer-running weekend could, in practice, give more people the chance to get that moment—especially those who might struggle with a Sunday-only race due to other commitments, including religious reasons.
And then there is the charitable argument. Organisers estimate that a two-day event could raise more than £130m for charities and good causes—more than doubling last year’s record—while research suggests a wider economic boost.
The risk: losing ‘love’—and diluting the magic
The marathon’s first half runs through predominantly residential areas, with shops and supermarkets along the way. Residents may not experience the same day-to-day patterns on Saturday as they do on Sunday, and movement patterns can differ for clubs, organisations and even everyday leisure.
That’s one reason why the debate is not just about numbers. It is also about the character of the event.
Would crowds be as loud if they are spread across two days?. That is the central fear voiced by Smith: marathon spectatorship is partly built on concentration—thousands of people lining the course on one key day. turning the 26.2 miles into a single. unified roar.. Splitting that into two days could change the intensity, even if the total count remains impressive.
There is also the emotional angle for runners themselves. A participant might train for months and reach their peak on what used to be marathon day—only to see the experience repeated again immediately the next day. Smith captures the question in plain language: would that dilute the magic?
A citywide experiment—or a one-off that must protect its identity
Still, even a one-off can shift expectations. If the two-day experiment succeeds—raising more money, welcoming more first-timers, and strengthening community participation—it could set a precedent for how future mass sporting events handle demand.
But the organisers will be judged on something less measurable than fundraising figures: whether London still feels like London on race weekend.
Because for all the planning and scheduling, what keeps the London Marathon special is not just the start line.. It is the relationship between the route and the people who turn out for it.. If that relationship survives the added day—without exhausting the city—the two-day idea could become a defining chapter.. If not, it risks becoming a clever fix to a booking problem that costs something harder to replace.