When does the London Marathon 2027 ballot open? The official word is that the ballot for the 2027 TCS London Marathon will open in April 2026—specifically, around the last week of that month. Yes, you read that right. You’ll be signing up for a race that’s two birthdays away.
Think of it like booking a popular holiday cottage in Cornwall. You don’t ring up on a sunny Tuesday in August and say, “Got any availability for next week?” You book it a year in advance, cross your fingers for the weather, and spend the next twelve months daydreaming about pasties. The marathon ballot is your cottage booking—except instead of a cream tea, you get a medal and a very sore pair of legs.
Why You Should Care Right Now (Even If You’re on the Sofa)
Here’s the deal: the London Marathon ballot is insanely competitive. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people apply for a tiny sliver of places—some reckon it’s a one-in-five chance. It’s like trying to get a table at that trendy restaurant where your mate’s cousin works, except there’s no backdoor favouritism.
You might be thinking, “I’m not even a runner. I just power-walk to the kettle.” That’s fine! The ballot doesn’t care if you run a four-hour marathon or a six-hour shuffle. It is the great equaliser. One minute you’re buying a lottery ticket on a rainy Tuesday; the next, you’re telling your colleagues you’ll be running past the Cutty Sark.
