The London Marathon will take place on 2 October 2022, rather than its traditional April date.
This will be the third successive year that the London Marathon will be held in October rather than April, with the 2021 event taking place on 3 October.
London Marathon Events has said moving the 2022 event to October allows more chance of “welcoming the world to the streets of London”.
In 2022 Virgin Money will also be replaced as headline sponsor by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
The global IT services, consulting and business solutions organisation will take over the title partnership from Virgin Money after the 2021 race, with a new six-year partnership covering the 2022 to 2027 London Marathons.
A key part of TCS’s new role will be to use technology to enhance the marathon experience.
The company has been technology partner of the London Marathon since 2016, developing the official event app in 2019.
'We are living in a hugely uncertain world'
Hugh Brasher, event director of London Marathon Events, said: “We are living in a hugely uncertain world – a world where different approaches to managing Covid-19 are being explored and executed.
“The London Marathon is an extraordinary and unique celebration of the family of humankind coming together. We believe that by moving the 2022 event to October we give ourselves the best chances of welcoming the world to the streets of London, enabling tens of millions to be raised for good causes and giving people the certainty that their hard work and training will allow them to experience the amazing crowds cheering them every step of the way from Greenwich to Westminster.”
He added that for 39 years the London Marathon has been a spring event and “we will return to our traditional slot in the calendar in 2023”, when the TCS London Marathon will take place on Sunday 23 April.
Concerns around the change of date
London Marathon faced some concern on social media, with fundraisers worried the change in date might impact financial projections for the year.
London Marathon announces it is running in October again next year, not April
— Matt Smith (@InnovationMatt) August 17, 2021
Will mean some significant reforecasting/budgeting and contingency planning for fundraising events teams. These decisions have big ramifications, particularly for those with FYs that end in March https://t.co/CdEnbBjfPZ
Some also suggested that training over the summer months was not optimal for runners.
For those looking for a 2022 spring marathon in U.K. best start looking elsewhere….I do feel for all those who deferred this years entry to April 2022.
— Donato TRAIN | RACE | PIZZA 🍕 (@poetwithpace) August 17, 2021
Autumn marathons are tough to train for through warm summer months and school holidays.
Hey ho, what do we know? 🤔 https://t.co/U2OGXsEhRf
Others were frustrated at the communication around the change in date, and said plans had already been made around the original April date.
Honestly, people have booked hotels, and chose 2022 as it was confirmed as a usual April spring and not having to train over the summer! Not happy at all @LondonMarathon https://t.co/UgbURSmZg2
— #LegacyFan Monkey Head (@monkeyhead78) August 17, 2021
This is an absolute shambles. No email, no clear communication, no offer to defer a place. I chose this date because I don't want to train in the summer, I even booked my wedding date to accommodate it. This isn't fair on me or so many other runners https://t.co/H6OcDvTj2k
— James Bunting (@JGOBunting) August 17, 2021
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