London Marathon to take place over two days in 2027

The London Marathon will take place twice over two days next year, organisers have announced.

The new format will mean that more runners will be able to take part in the main event, which is scheduled for the weekend of 24 and 25 April 2027.

The special one-off edition is also expected to raise a record amount of money for charities.

The mini London Marathon, which sees around 20,000 young participants completing the last mile of the route, will be held on Friday 23 April.

Organisers say the special two-day event is in response to the huge demand from people wanting to take part in the London Marathon.

A record 1.3 million people have applied for a place in next year's race, making it the most popular marathon ballot ever.

The boss of London Marathon Events, Hugh Brasher, described the plans as a "once-in-a-generation" change.

"By expanding to 100,000 runners across two days, we're opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world's greatest marathon.

"We believe that more than £150 million can be raised for good causes," he added.

The change is only planned for 2027, with organisers saying it is a one-off event.

All runners will follow the usual London Marathon route from Greenwich to Westminster, and more details will be confirmed in the coming months.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also welcomed the plans, saying he was "delighted" that the famous race would expand into a two-day event for one year only.

History was made at this year's event, when Kenya's Sabastian Sawe became the first athlete in history to run a marathon in less than two hours in race conditions.