Unable to take part?
Life doesn’t always go to plan and that’s why, for those who are eligible, we offer the opportunity to defer your place.
The eligible entry types are outlined below, please read the criteria carefully. If you’re not eligible, no action is required.
How to request deferral
Log in to your Let’s Do This account, go to ‘manage my booking’, and follow the ‘defer my entry’ option.
The deadline to request deferral is 26 April at 23:59 BST.
We will contact you by the end of June about registering for the 2026 TCS London Marathon.
Find your entry type and next steps
UK entrants
Places via the ballot, running clubs and stakeholders
If you secure your place through the Ballot or have a guaranteed place from a running club or stakeholder (such as a local authority, emergency service, volunteer group or another group), you can defer your place to the following year. You’ll still need to pay the entry fee to secure your deferred place and we’ll email you with details of how to do this.
Places provided by charities
If your place was provided by a charity, you cannot defer it via our system as the place belongs to the charity. Please contact the charity directly to discuss your options. Deferral of your place to a future year is at the charity’s discretion.
Good For Age places
Good For Age places are awarded based on qualifying times achieved within the designated qualifying period and cannot be deferred. The only exception is if you are pregnant or postpartum – please see below.
Championship places
Championship places are awarded based on qualifying times achieved within the designated qualifying period and cannot be deferred. The only exception is if you are pregnant or postpartum – please see below.
Places provided by a sponsor
If your place is provided by and paid for by a sponsor, it is not possible for you to defer. Please contact the sponsor directly to discuss your options.
TCS London Marathon MyWay
Your entry cannot be deferred.
Deferred entry from the 2024 TCS London Marathon
We emailed everyone who requested a deferral from the mass 2024 event in May. The deferral deadline has now passed, so if you have not registered you cannot take part in 2025. The only exception is if you are pregnant or postpartum – please see below.
Enhanced deferral options if you are pregnant or postpartum
If you are unable to take part because you are pregnant or postpartum, you can defer your place to one of the following three years. If you are pregnant or postpartum and hold a Good For Age* or Championship place, you can defer your entry to the same category as your original place without the need to qualify again. You’ll still need to pay the entry fee for the chosen year’s event to secure your deferred place and we’ll email you with details of how to do this.
*Your place will be in the appropriate age category for the newly-selected marathon.
International entrants
Places via the international ballot
If you secure your place through the International Ballot, you can defer your place to the following year. You’ll still need to pay the international entry fee for the following year's event (minus the carbon emissions levy, which you paid when you secured your original place) to secure your deferred place and we’ll email you with details of how to do this.
Places provided by a tour operator
If your place was provided by a tour operator, you cannot defer it via our system. Please contact your tour operator directly to discuss your options.
TCS London Marathon MyWay
Your entry cannot be deferred.
Deferred entry from the 2024 London Marathon
We emailed everyone who requested a deferral from the mass 2024 event in May. The deferral deadline has now passed, so if you have not registered you cannot take part in 2025. The only exception is if you are pregnant or postpartum – please see below.
Enhanced deferral options if you are pregnant or postpartum
If you are unable to take part because you are pregnant or postpartum, you can defer your place to one of the following three years. If you are pregnant or postpartum and hold a Good For Age* or Championship place, you can defer your entry to the same category as your original place without the need to qualify again. You’ll still need to pay the entry fee for the chosen year’s event to secure your deferred place and we’ll email you with details of how to do this.
*Your place will be in the appropriate age category for the newly-selected marathon.