2027 TCS London Marathon a two-day event and Olympic trial

The 2027 TCS London Marathon will be a two-day event for the first time in its history. The elite men's race is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, with the elite women's race following on Sunday, April 25.

This one-off, two-day format, branded the 'Double TCS London Marathon', will also host the UK Athletics Marathon Championships. It is the official trial race for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing and the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

Dual role as championship and Olympic trial

The event carries a dual selection purpose. The first two British athletes to finish the elite men’s and women’s races will be eligible for selection for the 2027 World Championships, provided they achieve the required qualifying times. Furthermore, the first British male and female finishers will be pre-selected for the LA 2028 Olympic Games if they hit the Olympic qualifying standards.

Tom Craggs, UK Athletics' endurance performance lead, endorsed the venue. "The TCS London Marathon is the greatest marathon in the world and provides a fantastic platform for British athletes to compete on the highest stage."

Qualification pathways and athlete implications

Qualification for the 2027 World Championships requires athletes to meet strict time standards. The first British finishers must run under the following marks on or before race day:

Pre-selection for the LA 2028 Olympics is conditional. Athletes must first achieve Olympic qualifying times, which are expected to be confirmed by the end of 2026. That pre-selection then requires them to back it up with performances across race distances through the 2028 season before their Team GB place is confirmed. Full detail will be outlined in UKA's forthcoming selection policy.

The reigning UKA marathon champions are Eilish McColgan and Mahamed Mahamed, who won the titles in 2026.

Participant scale and charitable impact

A record 100,000 participants are expected across the two days of the 2027 event. Mass events will include male, female, and non-binary participants.

This scale is projected to create the largest fundraising moment in UK sporting history. The two-day event is expected to raise more than £150 million for charitable causes. Hugh Brasher is the CEO of London Marathon Events, the race organisers.

The first British male and female finishers at the 2027 TCS London Marathon will be pre-selected for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, provided they meet the Olympic qualifying times.