More than 59,000 runners are set to take on the 26.2-mile London Marathon course on Sunday, surpassing last year's world record of 56,640 finishers. The 2025 race had already marked a milestone as the largest in the event's history, achieved despite challenging hot weather. Organisers are now exploring a two-day format for the 2027 edition, with event director Hugh Brasher stating the change could accommodate up to 100,000 finishers and generate over £130 million for charity. In the elite races, all four defending champions will return: Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa in the men's and women's divisions, alongside Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner in the wheelchair events. British athletes Mahamed Mahamed, Phil Sesemann, Patrick Dever, Rose Harvey, Eilish McColgan, Jess Warner-Judd, David Weir and Eden Rainbow-Cooper will compete on home soil. The race will be officially started by four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah and England's Women's Rugby World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne at Greenwich Park. Coverage will be broadcast live on the BBC.
The return of all four defending champions contrasts sharply with the organisers' focus on expanding participation numbers rather than elite performance. With over 59,000 runners expected, the event's identity is shifting more toward mass participation than competitive spectacle. No Nigerian or African athletes were named in the British elite contingent or among the defending champions. The spotlight remains on global inclusivity, not individual dominance.
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