When Do You Find Out About London Marathon Ballot 2026

So there I was, last October, refreshing my email like a caffeinated squirrel. My friend Dave had just texted: “Ballot results are out!” I stared at my inbox, heart hammering, convinced this was my year. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. I got the dreaded “better luck next time” and spent the evening eating regret-flavored crisps.

That gut-punch moment is something every hopeful runner knows. If you’re gearing up for the 2026 London Marathon, you’re probably already wondering: when do you actually find out? The answer is both simple and maddeningly vague—because the ballot is a fickle beast.

The Official Timeline (As Far As Anyone Knows)

For the 2026 race, the ballot typically opens in April 2026—yes, the same year as the race, not the year before. You apply online during a brief window, usually a few weeks. Then you wait.

And wait. And refresh your phone in awkward places, like during a meeting. That’s the real marathon training.

Results usually drop in October 2025, about six months after the ballot closes. I know, I know—that’s a painfully long gap. But organisers say it takes time to process the hundreds of thousands of applications (last year was over 400,000).

The Actual Date? It’s a Surprise

Here’s the kicker: London Marathon doesn’t announce a specific day for ballot results. You just get an email one autumn morning. No countdown. No warning. It’s like Christmas, but with more sweat and fewer presents.

Some years it’s early October, others mid-October. One year it was literally Halloween—spooky, right? Your best bet is to stalk their official Twitter and website starting in late September.

Pro tip: Do not rely on third-party forums or Reddit threads. Those folks are lovely, but they’ll have you refreshing at 2am based on a rumour. Trust the official source—or just accept the anxiety.

What Happens When You Don’t Get In? (The Polite Cry)

If you’re rejected, you’ll see an email from “Virgin Money London Marathon” with a subject like “London Marathon 2026 Ballot Result.” Your heart will drop before you open it. Yes, that’s normal.

The options? You can enter the charity ballot (different from the main ballot, with higher odds) or apply for a Good for Age place if you’re fast enough. Or you can sell a kidney for a tour operator entry. Kidding. Mostly.

But here’s the ironic part: rejection isn’t the end. Many runners get in through the second-chance ballot in November, when unclaimed places get reallocated. That happened to my mate Sarah—she cried on a train when she got in.

The Real Question: Should You Even Bother?

Honestly? Yes. Despite the stress and near-certain disappointment (only about 1 in 5 applicants gets a place), the London Marathon ballot is a weirdly beautiful lottery. It’s the only way regular humans can run alongside elites, dressed as a rhino, past Big Ben.

And when you do find out—maybe in October 2025—you’ll feel a rush that’s totally worth the months of nail-biting. Or you’ll feel nothing because you got rejected, and that’s fine too.

Just remember: the best stories come from the journey, not the result. I didn’t get in that year. But I ran a local half-marathon instead, found a dog that tried to trip me, and had a laugh. That’s the spirit, right?

Your Cheat Sheet for 2026

Ballot opens: April 2026 (exact date TBA). Results: Late September to late October 2026. Mark your calendar with a question mark.

Second-chance ballot: November 2026—if you’re patient. Charity places: open all year, but you’ll need to raise £2,000+. Good for Age: check your qualifying time now—it’s strict.

And my final piece of unsolicited advice? Don’t obsess over the exact date. The ballot finds you when it’s ready. In the meantime, keep running, keep hoping, and keep those crisp snacks handy. You’ve got this—even if the universe doesn’t email you back right away.