2027 TCS London Marathon Charity Ballot

What is the Charity Ballot?

The Charity Ballot is an annual draw for charities that don’t already have any entries for the 2027 TCS London Marathon. Eligible charities can apply to secure one entry for the 2027 TCS London Marathon. There are 500 entries available.

Is the ballot free to enter and how much does the entry cost if successful?

Yes, the ballot is free to enter. Successful charities will be charged £400 + VAT for their one entry.

What is the application window for the ballot?

The application window will open on Monday 1 December 2025 and will close at 23:59 GMT on Thursday 11 December 2025. We can’t accept any applications after this time.

When will my charity be told the results of the ballot?

Charities will be notified of the results by Friday 19 December 2025.

Is my charity eligible to apply for the ballot?

If your charity already has charity entries for the 2027 TCS London Marathon, you can’t apply to be part of the ballot. The Charity Ballot is reserved for charities that don’t currently hold any Golden or Silver Bonds or Charity Advertising Packages.

I secured an entry through the 2026 Charity Ballot. Can I still apply for 2027?

Yes. If you don’t have any entries already for the 2027 event, you’re eligible to enter the 2027 ballot for a chance to secure one entry.

Will the entry roll over?

If you’re successful in securing an entry through the 2027 ballot, the entry won’t roll over. If your entry is unused on the day of the event in 2027, either because the registered participant does not cross the Start Line, or your charity does not register a participant by the participant registration deadline, the entry will expire.

When would we need to sign the Terms and Conditions?

You’ll be required to accept the 2027 Charity Ballot Terms and Conditions when you apply to enter the ballot. View the Terms and Conditions.

When do I have to pay?

If you’re successful in securing an entry through the 2027 ballot, we’ll invoice you from early February 2026. You’ll only be invoiced if you are successful in the ballot.

When can I start recruitment to fill our charity entry?

You will receive access to the Let’s Do This registration dashboard around May/June 2026, but once you've had confirmation of your entry you can start recruiting.

Is there a typical registration fee and sponsorship target that charities set?

Charities often charge a registration fee for marathon places. The amount is at your discretion, but feedback suggests this helps ensure participants are committed to running for your charity.

Similarly, the sponsorship target is up to you. On Enthuse, the average activated fundraising page raises £2,623.32, so we recommend basing your fundraising target around this number.

When can I register my participant?

We’ll be in touch in the weeks after 2026 Marathon Day with the next steps to allocate your entry to your chosen participant.

Can we swap participants?

If your participant drops out and you find a replacement before the registration deadline, you can reassign the entry.

If we can’t fill our entry, can we get a refund, or swap with another charity?

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer refunds or swaps with other charities.