Hundreds of charities are being offered the chance to purchase running places in the TCS London Marathon as part of a major update to its bond scheme.

London Marathon Events said today it was opening a ballot for 800 new charities to secure places at the event, which raises tens of millions of pounds for good causes every year.

LME announced in 2021 that it would reduce the number of running places offered by the “golden bond” system, which gives enlisted charities guaranteed running places each year, in an attempt to increase the number of good causes that can access the race.

It said golden bonds, which were introduced in the early 1990s and each provide five guaranteed places on a perpetually renewable five-year cycle, would reduce to four places for four years.

There were 629 charities that owned the limited number of golden bond places in 2021.

LME said today it was inviting charities that had no bonds to apply for a range of different options in a ballot that will determine successful organisations for the 2026 event.

Opportunities include applying for one, three or five golden bonds or one silver bond, which would offer two entries a year for four years.

LME said a further ballot for an additional 500 running places would be held for charities that do not have any bond entries or that were unsuccessful in the new bond scheme.

This ballot will open on 2 December and close on 13 December.

The cost of a charity entry in the TCS London Marathon will increase to £400 plus VAT from 2026, up £370 plus VAT), the first increase since 2021.

The next review of the bond scheme will take place in 2029, with any changes introduced for the 2033 race.

Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events, said the new charity bond scheme was “the culmination of years of work following extensive consultation with our existing charity partners”.

He said: “The TCS London Marathon is the biggest annual one-day fundraising event in the world and we have worked hard to ensure that we can bring in the maximum number of new charity partners while continuing to support our existing partners who have raised so much from the event over the years.

“We look forward to welcoming 800 new charities to the London Marathon family in 2026.”

To take part in the ballot for bond places, which is open until 23:59 on 26 November, click here.

For more information, click here.