Missed out the first time around. There is still a way in.?
The 2026 Great North Run has opened a second chance January ballot, giving runners another opportunity to secure a place at one of the most sought after road races anywhere in the world.
The January ballot is open now and runs until midnight on Sunday 11 January. Entry to the ballot is free of charge, with a £3 booking fee only applied if you are successful and offered a place.
The Biggest Half Marathon In The World
This is not a minor race quietly reopening entries. This is the biggest half marathon in the UK and the largest in the world, with around 60,000 runners taking part each year. From the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne to the seafront in South Shields, the course is packed with atmosphere from start to finish, helped along by wall to wall crowds, music, and the now famous flypast overhead.
For anyone who has never run it, the Great North Run is hard to explain until you are actually there. The scale of it, the noise, the sense of occasion and the sheer variety of runners all moving together makes it feel more like a national event than a standard road race. First timers, charity runners, club athletes and seasoned marathoners all share the same road and the same buzz.
A Milestone Year For An Iconic Race
The 2026 edition also marks a milestone year, celebrating 45 years since the event began in 1981. Millions of runners have taken part over the decades, raising huge sums for charity and ticking off a bucket list race in the process. If you have ever thought about doing it, this is a very good year to finally put your name in.
The race takes place on 13 September and is open to runners aged 17 or over on race day. If you missed out in earlier entry windows, this January ballot is a genuine second chance rather than a waiting list afterthought.
Still Time To Get Your Name In
If the first ballot closed before you got around to it, or if you assumed it was already too late, this is your reminder. Get your name in before Sunday night and you could be lining up on that iconic start line in Newcastle, heading east with the rest of the field.
Full ballot details are available via the official Great North Run website.