{"id":1653,"date":"2025-04-25T10:21:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/?p=1653"},"modified":"2025-04-30T01:48:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T01:48:27","slug":"london-marathon-2026-ballot-opens-today-heres-how-to-take-part","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/25\/london-marathon-2026-ballot-opens-today-heres-how-to-take-part\/","title":{"rendered":"London Marathon 2026 ballot opens today \u2013 here\u2019s how to take part"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"470\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22949416 lazyload\" alt=\"Athletics - London Marathon - London, Britain - April 21, 2024 Ellie Griffin and Charlie Muddyman in action during the marathon REUTERS\/John Sibley\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_200864742-afc8.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Good luck if you&#8217;re hoping to run next year&#8217;s race (Picture: Zac Goodwin\/PA Wire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As runners gear up for <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/24\/map-shows-london-marathon-route-map-road-closures-2025-22949499\/\">this year&#8217;s London Marathon<\/a> on Sunday, the have ballots opened today for next year&#8217;s race.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone keen to take on the 26.2 miles challenge around the capital in 2026 has until Friday, May 2 to sign up. <\/p>\n<p>A world record-breaking 840,000 people entered the ballot for this year\u2019s race, making it officially the most popular marathon on the planet. <\/p>\n<p>Around 56,000 people are expected to take part.<\/p>\n<p>Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said: &#8216;The London Marathon is one of the most iconic and inclusive sporting events in the UK and is unique in the fact that anyone can be part of it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;You can stand on the same Start Line as the legends of the sport and be cheered on by the hundreds of thousands of people who line the streets. <\/p>\n<p>&#8216;It is a day like no other when the whole of humanity comes together, and entering the 2026 TCS London Marathon Ballot can be the first step towards being part of it.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>More than 1.25million people have completed the circuit since the race was launched in 1981, with runners having raised more than \u00a31billion for <a data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/charity\/\">charity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I sign up for the London Marathon 2026?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-20696816 lazyload\" alt=\"TCS London Marathon 2024, London\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2148008957.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>London was packed full of runners on Sunday (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london-marathon\/\">London Marathon<\/a> will be held on Sunday, April 26 next year.<\/p>\n<p>Prospective marathon runners can sign up by entering a public ballot, with winners drawn at random.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When does the ballot open?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/20\/huge-fire-engulfs-two-flats-east-london-block-22940983\/\">Huge fire engulfs two flats in east London block<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/27\/fungus-infected-zombie-spiders-invaded-london-22801577\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/29\/heathrow-airport-face-disruption-easter-strikes-announced-22815826\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/20\/chinese-spies-bugging-londons-pubs-park-benches-security-sources-say-22940560\/\">Chinese spies are \u2018bugging London\u2019s pubs and park benches,\u2019 security sources say<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/01\/three-killed-car-crashes-bus-sparks-huge-inferno-22826874\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/01\/three-killed-car-crashes-bus-sparks-huge-inferno-22826874\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/08\/inside-plans-revamp-london-liverpool-street-station-22872616\/\">Inside the plans to revamp London Liverpool Street station<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro&#8217;s<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> London news hub<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The ballot for the 2026 London Marathon opened today, Friday, April 25, and will stay open for a week until Friday, May 2.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does it cost?<\/h2>\n<p>If you are a UK resident, and choose to donate your entry fee to support the work of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcslondonmarathon.com\/inside-lme\/london-marathon-foundation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">London Marathon Foundation<\/a>&nbsp;during the ballot process if your entry is unsuccessful, your entry free is reduced from \u00a379.99 to \u00a349.99.<\/p>\n<p>If you get offered a place after being successful, if you live in the UK and didn\u2019t opt to donate your entry fee when applying, you\u2019ll need to pay the full entry fee of \u00a379.99.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens if I don&#8217;t get a place in the first ballot?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22950868 lazyload\" alt=\"View down the Mall to the finishing line of the London Marathon in London, UK on April 21, 2013.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-490853291.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>The finishing line of the London Marathon at The Mall (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you don&#8217;t get a place in the main ballot, not all hope is lost.<\/p>\n<p>You will automatically be entered into a second ballot, and you will at least double your chance of getting a place through that second draw.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>If you are successful in either the first or second ballot, your entry is prepaid and confirmed.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I know if I&#8217;m in the ballot?<\/h2>\n<p>First of all, you&#8217;ll receive a confirmation email when you apply, as well as a payment receipt if you donate your entry fee.<\/p>\n<p>Organisers of the marathon recommend checking your junk folder if you don&#8217;t see a confirmation email soon after applying.<\/p>\n<p>The results of the 2026 London Marathon ballot will be emailed to all entrants in July 2025 &#8211; the exact date has not been confirmed.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I&#8217;m unsuccessful in both?<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22949408 lazyload\" alt=\"Fun runners, one dressed as a shark, compete in the 2024 London Marathon in central London on April 21, 2024.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_200892779-b824.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Runners love to dress up in silly costumes for the event (Picture: HENRY NICHOLLS\/AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you are unsuccessful you will receive a &#8216;premium winter running top&#8217; which retails at \u00a360, and the money you entered will be donated to the London Marathon Foundation.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top-rated marathons in the UK if you don&#8217;t get in to London<\/h2>\n<p>If you aren&#8217;t lucky enough to be able to race in<a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london\/\"> London<\/a> next year, never fear as there are plenty of other options across the UK.<\/p>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/manchester\/\">Manchester <\/a>Marathon, billed as the flattest and most friendly, to the Great Welsh Marathon offering stunning views of the Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park, there&#8217;s bound to be another option for you.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/brighton\/\">Brighton <\/a>Marathon is held a few weeks before the London Marathon, or you could head to <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/blackpool\/\">Blackpool <\/a>and take in all of the seaside resort&#8217;s tourist spots en route.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/edinburgh\/\">Edinburgh<\/a> Marathon is also known for its super-flat route, making it a great option for beginners, or if you want more of a challenge the multi-terrain New Forest Marathon takes you through the heart of the stunning national park.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong><strong><strong>Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:webnews@metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\">webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this, <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Good luck if you&#8217;re hoping to run next year&#8217;s race [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-london"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1653"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1657,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1653\/revisions\/1657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}