Great North Run ballot: when it opens and how to get a place

How you get a place

Ballot, plus charity places and Great Run membership. Entry costs £70 + £3.50 fee (only if you win).

In a ballot you apply during a set window, and places are drawn at random once it closes. Some races charge you only if you're picked, and some take payment automatically the moment you're drawn, so read the rules before you apply. Our guide to how race ballots work explains more.

The ballot for the 2028 race

Ballot, Sep 2027 (a second ballot may run in Jan 2028). The 2028 race is expected on Sun 10 Sep 2028.

How we know: 2027 ballot ran 7–20 Sep 2026.

Didn't get a place?

• Charity places. Most big races give places to charities. You agree to raise a set amount in return.
• Tour operators. Official travel partners sell guaranteed entries bundled with a hotel. They cost more, but you can book after the ballot closes.
• Pick a race you can enter now. These are the same distance, within two months of the same time of year, and open now:

Planning to go?

Official site: greatrun.org. Details come from our race database, checked against the organiser's site in October 2026. Ballot dates change every year, so always confirm on the official site.