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. 

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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.

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