If running the London Marathon has been on your bucket list, now’s the time to try your luck. The ballot for the 2026 TCS London Marathon officially opened today — that’s Friday, April 25, 2025 — and it’s only going to be open for a week. So yeah, the clock’s ticking.
The big race day is set for Sunday, April 26, 2026. That might feel like ages away, but trust me, it creeps up fast if you’re planning to run it.
Key Dates You Don’t Want to Miss
Here’s the deal with the timeline — it’s pretty straightforward:
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Ballot opens: April 25, 2025
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Ballot closes: May 2, 2025
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Results come out: Sometime in June or July 2025
Basically, you’ve got one week to throw your name in the hat. That’s not much time, honestly. After that, you’ll just have to sit tight and wait for an email in the summer to find out if you got in or not.
How You Can Enter the Ballot
The entry process isn’t complicated, which is great. Here’s how to do it:
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Go to the official London Marathon website
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Fill out the form online
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Hit submit before the deadline
And just to clear this up — it doesn’t cost anything to enter the ballot. Totally free. But if your name gets picked? Then you’ll have to pay to confirm your place. It’s £69.99 for folks in the UK and £146 if you’re coming from abroad.
Is It Hard to Get In? Yeah, Kind of.
Look, not gonna lie — getting picked is kind of a long shot. Last year, over 840,000 people entered the ballot. That’s a massive number. So yeah, it’s super competitive.
But the good part is, everyone gets the same chance. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-timer or a seasoned marathon runner. No one has a better shot. And since it’s free to enter, why not give it a go?
Didn’t Get Picked? You’ve Got Other Options
Don’t worry if the ballot doesn’t go your way — it happens. But you still have some solid options:
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Charity Places: Tons of charities offer marathon spots if you commit to raising money for them. It’s a good way to run and help people at the same time.
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Good for Age: If you’re in the UK and have run a fast enough time in another race, you might qualify for a guaranteed entry through this route.
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Tour Operators: If you’re an international runner, there are tour companies that can get you in. They usually offer travel and hotel packages too.
