The 2027 London Marathon will have an unusual opening act before the runners even reach the start line. Organisers have revealed that the elite race schedule was decided by a game of rock, paper, scissors between two of the biggest names from the 2026 event — men’s world record holder Sabastian Sawe and women’s wheelchair world record holder Catherine Debrunner.
Debrunner won the light-hearted contest, meaning she secured the traditional Sunday slot for the women’s elite and women’s wheelchair races. The elite men’s and men’s wheelchair races will therefore take place on Saturday, 24 April 2027, while the women’s races will headline Sunday, 25 April 2027.
The decision adds another unusual chapter to what is already set to be one of the most distinctive editions in London Marathon history.
2027 London Marathon schedule revealed
The two-day format is being introduced for one year only. The 2027 London Marathon will take place on Saturday 24 April and Sunday 25 April, with 100,000 participants expected across the weekend. Both days will use the same iconic route from Greenwich to Westminster.
Following Debrunner’s victory in the rock, paper, scissors showdown, the elite schedule has now been divided as follows:
| Date | Elite races | Mass race |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 24 April 2027 | Men’s wheelchair and elite men’s races | Mixed field |
| Sunday, 25 April 2027 | Women’s wheelchair and elite women’s races | Mixed field |
The Championship and Good for Age categories will also be split between the two days, with the male competitions scheduled for Saturday and the female competitions on Sunday.
Importantly, the split applies to the elite and qualifying categories. The main mass-participation race on both days will continue to include male, female and non-binary runners.
That means spectators will get two different days of elite competition while the wider London Marathon atmosphere continues across the entire weekend.
Debrunner beats Sawe to decide the day
Catherine Debrunner and Sabastian Sawe were natural choices for the unusual showdown.
Both were champions at the 2026 London Marathon in their respective events, and both are world-record holders in their disciplines. Instead of allowing organisers to make the decision, the two athletes settled the question with a simple game of rock, paper, scissors.
Debrunner won, giving the women’s elite and wheelchair races the Sunday slot traditionally associated with the London Marathon.
London Marathon Events chief executive Hugh Brasher described the contest as an entertaining way to determine which day would host each elite race. He also said splitting the elite competitions would provide an opportunity to give greater attention to the athletes competing across the weekend.
The result also means the elite women’s wheelchair race will open Sunday’s action, followed by the elite women’s marathon.
For marathon fans, the schedule creates two distinct elite programmes rather than trying to fit all of the headline races into a single morning.
Why is the London Marathon becoming a two-day event?
The expansion comes after unprecedented demand for places.
A record 1,338,544 people from the UK and around the world entered the ballot for the 2027 London Marathon. That number broke the previous record of 1,133,813 applications for the 2026 race and represented an 18% increase year on year.
London Marathon Events subsequently confirmed the one-off two-day format, creating capacity for 100,000 runners across the weekend.
The organisation has said that 45,000 participants will run on Saturday and 55,000 on Sunday. The event will return to its normal format after 2027, making the Double a special one-year edition rather than a permanent change to the marathon calendar.
The huge ballot figure also shows just how much demand exists for one of the world’s most recognisable road races.
For runners who secured places, the two-day format means their race could take place on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on their allocation. Organisers have also made clear that participants cannot simply swap their allocated day with another runner.
100,000 runners and more than £150m for charity
The scale of the 2027 London Marathon will go well beyond the number of runners.
London Marathon Events estimates that the two-day event could raise more than £150 million for good causes. It also expects the expanded weekend to deliver a significant social and economic impact for London and the wider UK.
That fundraising potential is one of the major reasons the 2027 edition is attracting so much attention.
The event will bring together elite athletes, wheelchair racers, championship competitors, club runners, charity participants and thousands of first-time marathoners. With 100,000 people expected to run across the two days, the streets of London will effectively become a marathon festival for an entire weekend.
The women’s championship categories will also line up behind the women’s elite field, adding another significant feature to Sunday’s programme.
What makes the 2027 London Marathon different?
The 2027 edition will be different in several ways.
First, it will be held over two days rather than one. Second, the elite men’s and women’s races will be separated, allowing each competition to have its own headline day. Third, the event will accommodate 100,000 participants, making it significantly larger than the traditional single-day race.
The route itself will remain the same, running from Greenwich to Westminster, so runners will still experience the famous London course.
The organisers have also confirmed that the two-day format is a one-off for 2027. The future format for 2028 and beyond will be confirmed separately.
For fans, that means the 2027 race will be something of a collector’s edition — a marathon weekend that will not simply be repeated the following year.
The rock, paper, scissors contest between Debrunner and Sawe has now added another memorable detail to the story.
The two athletes will eventually have to settle things on the road rather than with hand signals, but for now, Debrunner has won the first battle. Her victory means the women’s elite races will receive the Sunday spotlight, while Sawe and the men’s field will get the honour of opening the elite competition on Saturday.
With 100,000 runners, a record ballot, two days of racing and more than £150 million in potential charity fundraising, the 2027 London Marathon is shaping up to be an extraordinary sporting weekend.
Stay tuned with ROKOCRICKET for more major sports updates, breaking stories and event news. Subscribe for the latest updates.
