The 2027 London Marathon is shaping up to be the most sought-after race in history, with an unprecedented 1,338,544 runners entering the public ballot for the 25 April event. That's a staggering 18% increase over last year's record of 1,133,813 applicants—a clear sign that the world's love for this iconic 26.2-mile journey through the capital shows no signs of slowing down.

To put this in perspective, the 2026 marathon already set a benchmark as the largest annual one-day fundraising event globally, with 59,830 finishers crossing the line. Now, the demand is even higher. "This astonishing total of applicants firmly establishes London as the world's most sought-after marathon," said Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events. "Nothing else comes close. Our mission is to inspire people of every age and ability to get active—and these extraordinary numbers show the massive draw and power of the London Marathon."

For the first time, over a million applications have come from the UK alone, and there's near-perfect parity between male and female registrations. The ballot results will be released in early July, with places awarded through a random draw—so hopefuls will need to keep their fingers crossed.

The excitement comes on the heels of a historic weekend for the sport. At the 2026 London Marathon, Kenya's Sabastian Sawe made headlines by running the first sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race, while Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered her own women's world record. Those feats have undoubtedly fueled the surge in interest, as runners everywhere dream of chasing their own personal bests on the same legendary course.

Organizers are also exploring the possibility of expanding the 2027 event across two days (Saturday and Sunday) to accommodate the growing demand. Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or a first-timer aiming to cross a bucket-list item, the London Marathon continues to prove it's the ultimate stage for runners of every ability.