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Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London Marathon ballot: How can I enter next year's race?
The ballot for the 2026 London Marathon has opened with this year's race set to take place this weekend. A world record 840,000 people entered the ballot for this year's marathon and that demand means the London event, which takes place on Sunday, is officially the most popular marathon on the planet. The ballot has opened a day earlier this year than in 2024 when applications were taken from the Saturday morning before the marathon on Sunday 21 April and this year's ballot will be open until Friday 2 May which means the window to apply is a day longer than it was in 2024. A record-breaking total of more than 56,000 people are expected to take part in Sunday's marathon with next year's event slated for Sunday 26 April 2026 and Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said: 'The London Marathon is one of the most iconic and inclusive sporting events in the UK and is unique in the fact that anyone can be part of it. You can stand on the same start line as the legends of the sport and be cheered on by the hundreds of thousands of people who line the can secure a place in the 2026 London Marathon by entering the ballot by clicking here. The ballot opened on Friday 25 April, two days before the 2025 edition of the race and closes on Friday 2 May 2025. The ballot results will be announced before the end of July. The 2026 London Marathon will take place on Sunday, 26 April 2026 and the winners are drawn at random, so everyone has an equal shot. If you're successful, you'll secure a coveted spot in the marathon. The cost of a place in the London Marathon for successful UK participants is £79.99. You do not have to pay your entry fee at the ballot, but UK residents can opt to donate their entry fee to the London Marathon Foundation no matter the outcome of the ballot. You will receive a confirmation email when you apply and you'll also receive a payment receipt, if you have donated your entry fee. The results of the ballot will be emailed to all entrants in July. Your entry fee, should you get a place through the ballot, is reduced from £79.99 to £49.99. If you live in the UK and didn't opt to donate your entry fee when applying, you'll need to pay the full entry fee of £79.99. If you don't get a place in the main ballot, you are automatically entered into a second ballot and that will at least double the chance of getting a place through that second draw. If you are successful in either ballot, your entry is prepaid and confirmed. If you are unsuccessful in both ballots, you'll receive a winter running top that would retail at £60, as consolation. The ballot is performed at random, while alternative options include applying for a charity place while you wait for the results of the ballot – if you end up gaining a ballot place and a charity place you can return your place to the charity and still raise funds for them as an own-place runner. The 2025 London Marathon is on Sunday 27 April. 8.50am – Elite wheelchair men's and women's races. 9.05am – Elite women's race. 9.35am – Elite men's race followed by mass start. Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the London Marathon live on the BBC, with extensive television coverage and online streaming available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website. The London Marathon tends to follow a largely unchanged route since it was first run in 1981. Covering 26.2 miles, the course begins in Greenwich, dropping down from the high point of the race to follow a largely flat course, first heading east to Woolwich before doubling back on itself and follow the Thames to Bermondsey. From there, the runners cut across London Bridge and turn right to take in Canary Wharf and London's old Docklands, before a U-turn to track through central London, running along the Embankment until another right turn at Westminster Bridge towards St James's Park. The route takes in many famous London landmarks, from the Cutty Sark (mile six), Tower Bridge (mile 12), the Tower of London (mile 22) the London Eye and Big Ben (both mile 25) before its iconic finish line on The Mall near Buckingham Palace. Last year's race was the first to offer equal prize money to the elite wheelchair races as their able-bodied counterparts. In 2024, the elite men's and women's able-bodied races and men's and women's wheelchair races had a total prize pot of £243,000, with the winners receiving $55,000 (£44,000) each. The prize money on offer this year is the same, with $55,000 going to each winner, the runners-up earning $30,000 (£23,100) and third-place $22,500 (£17,400). There are also $150,000 (£115,900) bonuses on offer for running sub-2:02 for the men and sub-2:15 for the women, $125,000 (£96,500) for setting a new world record, and $25,000 (£19,300) up for grabs in the elite men's and women's races for a new course record.
Time Out
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Time Out
How to enter the London Marathon 2026 ballot – deadline, cost and everything you need to know
So. You've been inspired by the tens of thousands of sporty people taking to London's streets for the marathon, and you're thinking you might want to give it a go. Maybe you're battling through the road closures to watch live, witnessing peak performance and wondering if next year, it could be you high-fiving strangers as you struggle across Tower Bridge. Maybe you're on the sofa with your feet up, watching on TV and saying 'I could do that' to anyone who'll listen. Maybe you're just excited at the prospect of bagging a free marg after a cool 26.2. But hold your horses! You've got to get in first. Before you put down the crisps, mainline protein shakes and don your best trainers, here's the deal on what to expect when you're applying for the capital's most prestigious jog. Here's our winning guide to this year's London Marathon. When is the London Marathon 2026? Next year's race will be held on Sunday April 26. When is the London Marathon ballot announced? If you're limbering up for 2026, you'll need to act fast: the ballot opens tomorrow, Friday April 25, and closes just a week later, on Friday May 2. You'll find out in June or July if you've got in, giving you around two months to look up just how long 26.2 miles actually is and let regret settle in. Entry fees The standard entry fee for the ballot is £79.99, up from £69.99 in previous years. If you choose to donate that money to the London Marathon charity at the point of entry, it's just £49.99. Prices for international entrants are higher. Prize money 2025's race winners will receive a tidy £41,000, and a mega £112,000 bonus will go to any man who completes the course in less than 2:02:00 or any woman with a time under 2:15:00. What are the chances of securing a spot? Ballot winners are drawn at random, but it's usually very oversubscribed. Last year, over 840,000 people applied for the 17,000 ballot spaces available, meaning there was a 2 percent chance of securing a spot through this system. If you choose to donate your fee and don't get a spot in the first ballot, you're automatically entered into the second one, and your chances of securing a space are at least doubled. If you don't get through either ballot, your entry fee will go to the London Marathon Foundation and you'll be sent a winter running top worth £60. Win win (even if your hopes of winning the actual event have been dashed). How to improve chances of securing a spot As we mentioned above, donating your fee means you'll be entered into a second ballot if you're unsuccessful in the first one. But you'll still be fighting it out with hundreds of thousands of keen runner beans, so if you can get in with a charity, or with the Good for Age qualification, you could be better placed to gain a spot on the starting line. Good for Age qualification This is a special way to get a bib, involving demonstrating your running prowess in context of your age. It's open to UK residents only, and there are 6,000 spots up for grabs. Essentially, you'll need to prove that you can run the 26.2 miles in an allotted time, according to your age range. For example, a man aged between 40 and 44 would need to clock in at under 2:57:00, and a woman of the same age would need to run it in 3:43:00, at an official marathon on a certified course any time before September 30 2025. If you're over 90, you've got over 7 hours to work with. However, getting in under the time stated for your age group doesn't guarantee you one of the coveted spaces - you'll have to be super speedy, as they're allocated on a fastest first basis. Good for Age applications open in October 2025. Running for a charity You can feel even more smug if you run the marathon for a charity, as you'll be raising lots of cash for a worthy cause. As with every other entry point, charity places tend to be very oversubscribed. It's worth picking a charity you genuinely have ties to so your application demonstrates your passion to run for them. You'll have to commit to a minimum fundraising amount, so start drafting those group chat pleas for sponsorship now - you'll get to remind all your loved ones and colleagues just how fit and kind-hearted you are on a regular basis! Tour operators for international runners Non-UK residents can get guaranteed spots by paying tour operating groups. The price usually runs into the multiple thousands for entry, hotels and fancy hospitality packages. There you have it. Everything you could possibly need to know if watching the event from your sofa this weekend has you wondering just how hard 26.2 miles could be, actually.
Metro
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Metro
All you need to know about London Marathon 2026 registration before ballot opens
The 2025 London marathon is fast approaching, but those preparing for this year's race may also be looking ahead to 2026. The course, which sets off from Blackheath and took runners past Cutty Sark in Greenwich, Canary Wharf, The Shard and Tower Bridge, finished up at St James's Park. More than 1.25million people have completed the marathon since its start in 1981, with thousands signing up every year, and together runners have raised more than £1billion. And 2026 will likely be no different when the ballot for next year's race opens on Friday. the 2026 London Marathon will be held on Sunday, April 26 next year. Prospective marathon runners can sign up by entering a public ballot, with winners drawn at random. The ballot for the 2026 London Marathon opens on Friday, April 25, and will stay open for a week until Friday, May 2. If you are a UK resident, and choose to donate your entry fee to support the work of the London Marathon Foundation during the ballot process if your entry is unsuccessful, your entry free is reduced from £79.99 to £49.99. If you get offered a place after being successful, if you live in the UK and didn't opt to donate your entry fee when applying, you'll need to pay the full entry fee of £79.99. If you don't get a place in the main ballot, not all hope is lost. You will automatically be entered into a second ballot, and you will at least double your chance of getting a place through that second draw. If you are successful in either the first or second ballot, your entry is prepaid and confirmed. First of all, you'll receive a confirmation email when you apply, as well as a payment receipt if you donate your entry fee. Organisers of the marathon recommend checking your junk folder if you don't see a confirmation email soon after applying. The results of the 2026 London Marathon ballot will be emailed to all entrants in July 2025 – the exact date has not been confirmed. If you are unsuccessful you will receive a 'premium winter running top' which retails at £60, and the money you entered will be donated to the London Marathon Foundation. If you aren't lucky enough to be able to race in London next year, never fearas there are plenty of other options across the UK. More Trending From Manchester Marathon, billed as the flattest and most friendly, to the Great Welsh Marathon offering stunning views of the Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park, there's bound to be another option for you. The Brighton Marathon is held a few weeks before the London Marathon, or you could head to Blackpool and take in all of the seaside resort's tourist spots en route. Edinburgh Marathon is also known for its super-flat route, making it a great option for beginners, or if you want more of a challenge the multi-terrain New Forest Marathon takes you through the heart of the stunning national park. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map reveals London hotspots feared to have been bugged by Chinese spies MORE: Huge UK festival under threat over environmental concerns as campaigners raise £31,000 MORE: Priced out of the area of your dreams? Try these more affordable postcodes next door
