London Marathon 2026: The Ultimate Guide to Dates, Ballot Results & Getting a Place
The 2026 TCS London Marathon ballot results have landed in inboxes across the UK.
Whether you’re celebrating with a new pair of trainers or staring at that all-too-familiar “commiserations” message, your journey to the 2026 start line really begins today. The ballot is just the first step, and for most runners, it’s not the final one.
This is your definitive guide to what’s next. We’ll cover the confirmed event date, what to do if you were successful, and—most importantly—your complete ‘Plan B’ for securing a London Marathon 2026 spot through ‘Good for Age’, charity, or other entry routes.
When is the 2026 TCS London Marathon?
Let’s get the most important question answered first. The 2026 TCS London Marathon is provisionally scheduled for Sunday, 26 April 2026.
This date follows the event’s traditional slot on the last Sunday in April. The date is subject to final confirmation from the event organisers, but it’s the one to pencil into your diary.
To help you plan, here are the key dates to be aware of for the 2026 event, based on the previous year’s cycle.
| Event | Projected Date | Status |
| 2026 Ballot Opens | April 2025 | TBC |
| 2026 Ballot Results | July 2025 | TBC |
| GFA Qualifying Window | 1 Oct 2024 – 30 Sep 2025 | TBC |
| GFA Application Window | November 2025 | TBC |
| Race Day | 26 April 2026 | Provisional |
The 2026 Ballot Results: What to Do Now
The ballot email divides the running community into two camps. Here’s your immediate action plan, no matter which email you received.
Success! I Got a Ballot Place.
Congratulations! You’ve beaten the odds. Take a moment to celebrate, but don’t wait too long—you have a deadline. Here is your 5-step checklist.
- Pay Your Entry Fee: This is critical. You have a limited window (check your email!) to pay the entry fee and officially secure your spot. If you miss this deadline, your place is offered to someone else.
- Check Your Details: Log in to the official TCS London Marathon portal and double-check all your personal information. Verify your address (for your race bib), your medical information, and your predicted finish time (this determines your start wave).
- Find a Training Plan: The real work begins. Find a 16- or 20-week training plan that fits your experience level and start date.
- Book Accommodation: If you’re not local to London, book your hotel now. Prices skyrocket, and rooms near the start (Greenwich/Blackheath) or finish (Westminster/Victoria) sell out months in advance.
- Join the Community: Connect with other runners on the official forums or social media groups. Sharing the journey is part of the magic.
Unsuccessful in the Ballot? Your Journey Starts Here.
You’re not alone. The ballot is famously over-subscribed; the 2025 event saw a record 840,318 applications. This is not the end. This is when the most determined runners find their way to the start line.
This isn’t failure. This is Chapter 1: Choosing Your Path. Here are your options.
Plan B: How to Get a 2026 London Marathon Place (Post-Ballot)
This is the core of your London Marathon 2026 strategy. If the ballot didn’t go your way, focus on these routes.
Option 1: The ‘Good for Age’ (GFA) Place
This is the most common route for experienced club runners. A ‘Good for Age’ (GFA) place is a non-ballot entry reserved for runners who have achieved a specific qualifying time for their age group.
But it’s not as simple as just being fast. The process is where many runners get confused.
Step 1: Check Your GFA Qualifying Time
First, you need to have run an official marathon time faster than the standard set for your age group. The times below are based on the 2025 event and are subject to confirmation by UK Athletics.
| Age (on 26 April 2026) | Men | Women |
| 18–39 | 2:55:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:00:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:05:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:10:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:20:00 | 4:05:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:35:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 3:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:30:00 | 5:30:00 |
| 75–79 | 5:00:00 | 6:00:00 |
| 80+ | 5:30:00 | 6:30:00 |
Step 2: Check Your Qualifying Window
This is the detail runners miss. To apply for the 2026 marathon, you must have run your qualifying time within a specific window. This is projected to be 1 October 2024 – 30 September 2025. A personal best from 2023, for example, will not count.
Step 3: Apply During the GFA Application Window
Hitting the time is not an automatic entry. You must still apply for your GFA place via a separate portal on the TCS London Marathon website. This portal is usually open for a very short period, typically in November 2025. Set a calendar reminder.
The ‘GFA Cut-Off’: Why Your Time Isn’t a Guarantee
This is the final, crucial piece of expert advice. Read this carefully.
Common Mistake: Hitting your ‘Good for Age’ time is only step one. Many runners miss the separate GFA application window. Even worse, they are unaware that the GFA category is often oversubscribed. This means the final cut-off time can be several minutes faster than the time listed above. For 2025, many age groups had a cut-off time 1-2 minutes faster than the standard.
Option 2: The Charity Place
This is the most popular and impactful way to get a London Marathon 2026 entry.
How to Find & Apply for a 2026 Charity Place
Thousands of places are reserved for runners who pledge to raise money for an official charity partner.
This is an application, not a sign-up sheet. The official London Marathon charity listing is your starting point. When you apply, don’t just say “I want to run.” Explain why you want to run for that specific charity. A personal connection makes your application stand out.
Fundraising Targets & Tips for Success
Be realistic about the commitment. Most major charities require a fundraising pledge of £2,000 to £2,500. You will also likely pay a registration fee of £50-£100 to secure the spot.
Pro-Tip: When choosing a charity, don’t just look for the lowest fundraising minimum. Pick a cause you genuinely connect with. It’s infinitely easier to ask for donations for a mission you believe in, especially when you’re 16 miles into a wet January training run and questioning your life choices.
Option 3: Running Club Entry
If you are a member of a running club affiliated with UK Athletics, your club likely receives a small, allocated number of marathon places.
These places are distributed by the club itself, often via an internal ballot for members who were unsuccessful in the main ballot. Speak to your club secretary in the autumn to find out your club’s specific process.
Option 4: Championship Entry
This route is for sub-elite runners. If you’ve achieved an exceptionally fast time in the last two years, you can apply for a Championship Entry.
The qualifying times are significantly faster than GFA (e.g., based on 2025: sub-2:40 for men, sub-3:14 for women). You must also be a registered member of a UK Athletics-affiliated club.
Can I Defer My 2026 Place? (Injury, Pregnancy & Postpartum)
This is a key question that builds trust. What if you get a place and can’t run?
The TCS London Marathon has a clear deferral policy. If you have a ballot or GFA place, you can defer your entry for one year due to illness, injury, pregnancy, or postpartum. You must apply for this deferral by the deadline (usually the day before the race).
Crucially, the policy, updated in recent years, offers enhanced support for pregnancy and postpartum. Entrants in this situation can defer for up to three years, offering vital flexibility. This information is available directly from the official event website.
The Expert’s Guide to Spectating the 2026 Marathon
Got a ballot place? Share this guide with your family and friends. Spectating the London Marathon is an event in itself, but it requires a plan.
As someone who has run it and spectated, trust me: don’t just “show up.”
Where to Avoid (The Tourist Traps)
Unless you enjoy being 10-deep in a crowd, avoid these spots:
- Cutty Sark (Mile 6): It looks great on TV, but it’s one of the first major bottlenecks.
- Tower Bridge (Mile 12.5): By far the most popular and crowded spot. You’ll be lucky to see anything.
- The Mall (Finish): This is ticketed and reserved for runners’ families and grandstands. You can’t just walk up to the finish line.
A Strategic Plan: How to See Your Runner 3 Time
Want to be the star spectator? Here’s a plan using the London Underground.
- Spot 1: Mile 9 (Canada Water): Take the Jubilee line to Canada Water. This area (just before Rotherhithe) is wide, and the crowds are thinner. You’ll get a great view.
- Spot 2: Mile 18 (Canary Wharf): Hop back on the Jubilee line one stop to Canary Wharf. You’ll easily beat your runner there. This is where the race gets tough (hitting “the wall”), and seeing a friendly face is a massive boost.
- Spot 3: Mile 25 (Embankment): Take the Jubilee line to Waterloo and walk to Embankment (or switch to the District/Circle line). The crowds are big, but the energy is electric. This one last cheer will carry your runner that final mile.
From Embankment, it’s a short walk to the official finish-line meeting points in Horse Guards Parade.
Conclusion
Whether you were one of the lucky few in the 2026 ballot, are now prepping your ‘Good for Age’ application, or are choosing a charity to run for, you have a clear plan. Your path to the London Marathon 2026 is set.
The ballot is a lottery, but the 26.2 miles to The Mall is not. The hard work, the commitment, and the real journey start today. Good luck.
FAQS
What date is the London Marathon 2026?
The 2026 TCS London Marathon is provisionally set for Sunday, 26 April 2026. This is pending final confirmation from the event organisers.
How can I enter the London Marathon 2026?
The main routes are: the public ballot (results in July 2025), a ‘Good for Age’ (GFA) qualifying time, a charity place, or an entry through an affiliated running club.
What are the ‘Good for Age’ times for the London Marathon 2026?
The times vary by age and gender (e.g., sub-2:55 for men 18-39, sub-3:40 for women 18-39). We have listed the full table of qualifying times in the article above.
How much does it cost to enter the London Marathon?
The 2025 ballot entry fee was £69.99 for UK residents. Charity places are typically a £50-£100 registration fee plus a £2,000-£2,500 fundraising pledge.
Is it hard to get a London Marathon ballot place?
Yes. It is one of the most over-subscribed marathons in the world. In 2024, there were a record 840,318 applications for the 2025 event, making it extremely difficult to get a place.
What happens if you are unsuccessful in the London Marathon ballot?
Your main options are to immediately apply for a charity place, check if you have a ‘Good for Age’ time (and apply during that window), or try for your running club’s allocated spot.
How much do you have to raise for a London Marathon charity place?
Most major charities ask for a minimum fundraising pledge of between £2,000 and £2,500.
Can I defer my London Marathon 2026 place?
Yes, the London Marathon has policies for deferral due to injury, illness, pregnancy, or postpartum. You must apply for deferral before the event’s deadline. The policy for pregnancy and postpartum allows for an extended deferral period.
About the Author
