The London Marathon. One of, if not the most, special events in the sporting calendar. A day that brings unfiltered joy, unites the city, and raises millions of pounds for hundreds of charities. On that basis, the idea of expanding it into a two-day event in 2027 sounds like a brilliant, almost inevitable evolution. However, I do think it’s worth asking whether this idea truly goes the distance.
The first thing I have to say is that I can’t deny the huge positives a two-day event could bring, and they are significant. According to organisers, the 2026 London Marathon broke its own record as the biggest annual one-day fundraising event in the world. It’s a fundraising powerhouse, generating tens of millions for incredible charities and causes, from cancer research to mental health support to community projects. Increasing capacity by adding a second day could allow thousands more people to take part, which in turn could raise millions more for charities that rely on marathon fundraising as a lifeline. For many organisations, and particularly smaller charities, the impact could be transformative.
Beyond the charitable impact, a two-day marathon would also deliver a major economic boost for London and the UK more broadly. The current one-day event already injects significant revenue when it comes to tourism, hospitality and transport etc, and extending the race across an entire weekend would naturally amplify that uplift.
There is also the question of inclusivity. This week we learned that a record 1.3 million people applied for the 2027 London Marathon ballot, yet with just shy of 60,000 who finished the race, it’s a reminder of just how hard it is to secure a place. Demand massively outweighs supply, and a two day event could open the door for more first time runners, more charity runners, and more people who have spent years trying to get their shot.
However, and to echo what I said at the start, the London Marathon is arguably the most special event in the sporting calendar. It’s one day where thousands of runners are lifted by hundreds of thousands of spectators, all creating an atmosphere that feels impossible to replicate. Stepping onto that start line is, in my view, one of the greatest honours we can experience, and that magic exists precisely because it all happens on a single, extraordinary day.
For the 1 million+ people who enter the ballot each year, the joy of getting a place, or the heartbreak of missing out, is part of what gives the event its prestige. In 2022, my housemate at the time tried to boost his chances by entering the ballot AND chasing a Good for Age time. He ran the Brighton Marathon in 2:56, just a few minutes short of the threshold, missed out in the ballot, while his irritating housemate (me), who had never run further than a half marathon, got a place and celebrated far too enthusiastically in front of him. Sorry Matt.
The point I’m trying to make is that he was gutted, and years later, we still bring up those contrasting emotions we both felt, and why? Because he wants to run in such a special event. I can’t help feeling that stretching it over two days risks diluting some of that magic. The atmosphere is unmatched: the surge of noise and sight as you turn onto Tower Bridge gives me goosebumps even just writing this, the wall of sound along Embankment carrying exhausted runners towards the finish. It’s electric, it’s unique and it’s something we shouldn’t risk dampening in any way.
The London Marathon is a leveller – every single person who ran this year became a part of history. It was the first time three women broke 2 hours and 16 minutes, and astonishingly, the first time athletes have ever run a sub two hour marathon under official race conditions. Moments like that belong on a single stage, a single day, a single shared experience. Splitting the event across two days risks creating two entirely separate races and let’s be honest, in Britain you can almost guarantee the weather will be completely different from one day to the next. With that comes the possibility of different crowds, different times, different energy and a very different atmosphere.
With the number of runners increasing, I also worry that greater scrutiny will be placed on finishing times. There’s a risk that simply completing the race, once an achievement in itself among participants, becomes less valued, while the time you finish in takes precedence. Whether you’re Sebastian Sawe or Daddy Pig, it’s vital that the sense of achievement that comes with crossing the finish line isn’t diminished by growing participation levels that could otherwise dilute that feeling.
Without wanting to sound boring and get too tied up into the logistics, we also can’t ignore the disruption it would cause. Londoners already accept, and often embrace, the annual road closures, transport changes and city-wide adjustments that come with marathon day. Extending that disruption across two days could test patience, particularly for those who live or work along the route. The marathon works because it’s one day of joyful inconvenience, two days could be pushing it.
Ultimately, the debate comes down to what we value most: growth or tradition. I can’t deny the economic benefits or the immense charitable gains, nor do I have a strong argument against those truths. Yet, I can’t help but feel protective of what the London Marathon is right now.
Amid the constant negativity we often see and hear each day, the London Marathon stands out as a rare moment when our capital becomes a stage for the human spirit at its very best. It’s one day when strangers cheer for strangers. One day when the city feels genuinely united. Some things are perfect as they are and the London Marathon is one of them.
Written by Ollie Rumbold, Senior Account Manager at The PHA Group
