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[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Oct 23

London Marathon Cancellation: Refunds, Deferrals, and Deadlines

Securing a place in the TCS London Marathon is one of the toughest achievements in road running. If an injury, illness, pregnancy, or scheduling conflict prevents you from lining up in Greenwich, understanding your options under official event rules can help protect your future entry.

London Marathon Events (LMEL) enforces strict terms in its General Conditions of Entry regarding withdrawals, refunds, bib transfers, and deferrals. Here is what happens if you cannot take part in 2027, how deadlines operate across the two-day Double format, and which exceptions apply.

Can you get a refund if you withdraw from the London Marathon?

No. Under the General Conditions of Entry, race fees are non-refundable if you withdraw voluntarily. If you cannot take part for any personal reason, including injury or illness, you forfeit the entry fee paid.

The only circumstance where entry fees are refunded is if LMEL cancels or postpones the whole allocated day of the event due to a Force Majeure event prior to the start, and you do not select an alternative option offered by the organizer. In all scenarios, LMEL accepts no liability for travel, hotel, or accommodation expenses incurred.

Can you transfer your bib or swap race days?

No. Entries are personal to each runner. You are strictly prohibited from selling, swapping, or transferring your place or allowing anyone else to wear your allocated bib number.

Transferring or running under someone else's bib leads to an immediate annulment of results and a ban from all future LMEL events of up to five years. A second breach of any nature carries a ban of up to life. In addition, because the 2027 race is staged as a two-day Double on Saturday 24 April and Sunday 25 April, allocated race days are fixed. Runners cannot swap days with other participants or request date changes.

What is the deadline to defer your 2027 entry?

If you hold an entry eligible for deferral, LMEL has established specific deadlines based on your allocated race day:

* Saturday 24 April entrants: The deferral deadline is 23:59:59 on Friday 23 April 2027. * Sunday 25 April entrants: The deferral deadline is 23:59:59 on Saturday 24 April 2027.

Requests must be submitted through the prescribed online system before these deadlines expire.

Which entry types are eligible for deferral?

Eligibility to defer depends strictly on how you obtained your spot:

* Ballot and stakeholder places: UK ballot entrants, international ballot entrants, and guaranteed places from running clubs or local stakeholders can request a deferral. A Sunday 2027 place defers to the 2028 race. A Saturday 2027 place defers to a Sunday place in 2028, 2029, or 2030, at LMEL's discretion. You cannot defer an entry that was already deferred from the previous year. * Future entry fees: A deferral does not roll over your payment. You must pay the relevant entry fee to secure your deferred place in the future year. International ballot entrants pay the future international entry fee minus the carbon emissions levy already paid. * Charity and tour places: Charity and tour operator entries cannot be deferred through the LMEL system. You must contact your charity or tour operator directly to discuss their individual policies. * Good For Age, Championship, and MyWay: Standard Good For Age, Championship, and virtual MyWay entries cannot be deferred, except under the pregnancy and postpartum policy.

How does the pregnancy and postpartum deferral policy work?

LMEL provides an enhanced deferral policy for participants unable to compete due to pregnancy or postpartum circumstances:

* Extended window: You can defer your entry to one of the following three years. * Preserved qualifying status: Pregnant or postpartum runners holding Good For Age or Championship places can defer to the same competition category without the need to achieve a new qualifying time. The deferred place will be assigned to your appropriate age category for the newly selected marathon year. * Repeat deferrals permitted: This enhanced option applies even if your entry was already deferred from a prior year. * Fee requirement: You must still pay the standard entry fee for the chosen future race year when invited to finalize registration.

To review course details and key entry deadlines, visit our London Marathon page.

Sources: London Marathon Events: Unable to take part, London Marathon Events: 2027 TCS London Marathon Double FAQs, London Marathon Events: TCS London Marathon General Conditions of Entry

Sources London Marathon Events