The starting gun may still be six days away for the 2026 AJ Bell Great North Run, but runners inspired to take part next year can act already. The ballot for the 2027 race opened at 8:00am today, Monday 7 September.

Applications will remain open until 11:59pm on Sunday 20 September, with the ballot drawn the following day. Successful runners will secure a place in the 2027 Great North Run on Sunday 12 September, when the famous 13.1 mile journey from Newcastle to South Shields begins all over again.

The 2027 entry fee is £70. Runners applying through the ballot submit their payment details when registering, but no money is taken unless they are successful. Applicants therefore need to make sure sufficient funds are available when the ballot is drawn on Monday 21 September.

Opening the ballot now puts next year's race firmly in view just as excitement builds around this weekend's event. The 2026 Great North Run takes place on Sunday 13 September and will be its biggest staging yet, with 63,000 runners expected to take part as the event celebrates its 45th edition.

Since the first Great North Run in 1981, more than 1.4 million people have crossed its finish line. Organisers expect the total to pass 1.5 million during the 2027 event, adding another milestone to the history of a race that has grown into the world's biggest Half Marathon.

Demand is again expected to be considerable, but applying on the first day offers no advantage over entering later in the ballot window. Runners have until 20 September to decide whether 2027 will be the year they cross the Tyne Bridge and head for that famous South Shields finish.

You can enter the 2027 ballot via the runABC race hub here.

Image courtesy Great Run Company.