TCS London Marathon 2026

Since 1865, the Salvation Army has been dedicated to working with some of the most marginalised people in society, without judgment or condemnation. When you participate in this incredible challenge and raise funds, you support our mission to help break the cycle of homelessness through the various services we're providing.

Find out more about our work here.

Charity Place
When applications open in late April, you can apply for one of our coveted London Marathon charity places. If you want to be one of the first to know when applications open, complete this form to let us know you're interest!

Ballot Place
Increase your chances of getting a place by applying for a place in the public ballot which will open on April 2025 by going to the TCS London Marathon website. You can apply for both a charity place and a ballot place, and if you receive a ballot place we'd still love you to be a part of Team Sally Army.

Charity place
If you apply for one of our charity places and have then been offered a place on Team Sally Army, you will need to pay a non-refundable registration fee of £100 within two weeks of accepting your place. This reserves your place for you in the team whilst you also pledge to raise the minimum sponsorship target.

Ballot place
If you secure a ballot place, you will pay the London Marathon organisers directly for your place. You can then join Team Sally Army and start your fundraising.

Charity Place
If you are given a Salvation Army Charity place, we ask you to raise at least £2,200. We ask you to have raised £1,800 by race day with the remaining £400 raced within a month of completing the marathon.

This is easily achievable if you start early, and many of our runners find that they raise far more than they ever expected!

Ballot Place
If you have secured a place through the London Marathon ballot there is no minimum sponsorship amount, and we are very grateful that you will be running for us. We're here to support you in raising as much as you can for the work of The Salvation Army.

Here are a few ideas to get you going – you can find loads more in the Fundraising Pack we will send you when you sign up:

• Take sponsorship form into work
• Ask if your workplace offers matched giving
• Bake Sale
• Hold a Quiz Night
• Start a running club
• Hold a coffee morning

We're here to support you in planning your fundraising events and raising the funds you need to run the London Marathon.

Charity place
We will allocate our charity places based on the quality of the application and no later than the end of June 2025.

Ballot place
The 2026 ballot results will likely be announced from May 2025.

If you secure a place, we would love to welcome you to Team Sally Army. If we have already allocated you one of our charity places, we would be grateful if you could let us know so that we could offer it to someone on the waiting list.

Accommodation is in the form of comfortable modern flats or rooms at our training centre, William Booth College, in Denmark Hill, which is 10 minutes by train or bus to central London.

This is available to our runners for the night before and/or the night of the London Marathon and can be purchased as soon as you have a place, subject to availability.

Booking for the accommodation needs to made through The Salvation Army Community and Fundraising Events Team – please contact us on london.marathon@salvationarmy.org.uk.

If you are successful in securing a charity place, our dedicated London Marathon team will be in touch with you. Once you have received this confirmation and paid your registration fee, you will receive further instructions by email and phone. 

You will also receive an Official Programme and registration form from the organisers of the London Marathon in 2026.