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Chicago Marathon 2026: Dates, registration, and route
Learn when the Chicago Marathon 2026 takes place, how the lottery and guaranteed entry options work, and what to expect from the city route.
The Chicago Marathon 2026 will take place on Sunday, October 11, 2026, bringing runners from around the world to one of the fastest and most prestigious marathon courses in the sport.
Officially known as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the race is one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors and is expected to welcome more than 55,000 participants for its 48th running.
This guide is for runners planning how to enter the Chicago Marathon 2026, as well as supporters and international visitors organizing a trip around race weekend. Below, we cover the confirmed Chicago Marathon 2026 date, registration options, the Chicago Marathon route, and the key race-day details to know before you go.
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What is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon?
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and holds World Athletics Platinum Label status, placing it among the highest-standard marathon events globally.
The Chicago Marathon 2026 is expected to welcome more than 55,000 runners from all over the world, making it a major international race as well as a major fundraising platform. In 2025, Chicago Marathon participants raised a record $47.1 million for charity, and the 2026 race is expected to continue that fundraising momentum.
One other reason why the race is so popular is its course. The course starts and finishes in Grant Park, passes through 29 neighborhoods, and is known for being flat, fast, and record-friendly. That makes it popular with elite runners chasing major titles, experienced marathoners targeting personal bests, and first-time participants looking for a big-city race atmosphere.
When is the Chicago Marathon 2026?
The Chicago Marathon 2026 date is Sunday, October 11, 2026. The race will be the 48th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
The official race-day schedule begins in the morning, with the men’s professional wheelchair start listed for 7:20 a.m., the women’s professional wheelchair start at 7:21 a.m., the professional runner start at 7:30 a.m., and the first mass-participation wave at 7:35 a.m. Times are subject to change, so runners and spectators should check the official schedule closer to race weekend.
| Detail | Chicago Marathon 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Race date | Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
| Edition | 48th running |
| Main start area | Grant Park |
| Distance | 26.2 miles / 42.195 km |
| Course time limit | 6 hours 30 minutes |
| First listed start | 7:20 a.m., subject to change |
International visitors should also prepare for changeable October weather in Chicago, so it’s worth checking what to pack for a USA trip and bringing layers for both cool mornings and warmer daytime conditions.
How to enter the Chicago Marathon 2026?
There are two main ways to enter the 2026 Chicago Marathon: guaranteed entry and non-guaranteed entry through the Chicago Marathon lottery. However, the main 2026 application window has already closed.
If you’re still hoping to join the Chicago Marathon 2026, the remaining options are limited. The main public route still open is the official Charity Program (and the Para Athletics Program for eligible athletes). The entry is available on a first-come, first-served basis until Tuesday, September 15, 2026, or until the charity reaches capacity.
For future race cycles, the process is useful to understand. Guaranteed entries are available to runners who qualify through specific routes, while the non-guaranteed drawing is open to runners who do not have a guaranteed path. Applying early for the drawing does not improve your odds, and submitting multiple applications does not increase your chance of selection.
Entry options and fees
| Entry option | Guaranteed? | How it works | 2026 application status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-guaranteed drawing / Chicago Marathon lottery | No | Open to runners who do not qualify through a guaranteed entry route. Selected runners are chosen through the official drawing. | Closed. Applications closed on November 18, 2025, and results were sent on December 11, 2025. |
| Time qualifier | Yes | For runners who met the official qualifying time for their age group within the required qualifying window. | Closed. |
| Legacy finisher | Yes | For runners who finished the Chicago Marathon five or more times within the last 10 years. | Closed. |
| Chicago Distance Series finisher | Yes | For runners who completed all three 2025 Bank of America Chicago Distance Series events. | Closed. |
| 2025 cancelled entry | Yes | For eligible 2025 participants who cancelled their entry according to the event’s official cancellation process. | Closed. |
| Pregnancy and Postpartum Policy | Yes | For eligible participants who cancelled under the event’s pregnancy and postpartum policy. | Closed. |
| High Performance Program | Yes | For runners who met the event’s elite-level qualifying standards. | Closed. The 150-participant capacity has been reached. |
| Charity Program | Yes | For runners who commit to fundraising for an official Chicago Marathon charity partner. | Still available until September 15, 2026, or until charity entries reach capacity. |
| Tour Operator Program | Yes | For runners entering through an official international tour operator, often as part of a travel package. | Closed. Application closed on August 16, 2026. |
| Para Athletics Program | Yes | For eligible athletes applying through the event’s official Para Athletics Program. | Check the official program details for current availability. |
For the Chicago Marathon 2026 registration cycle, the standard entry fee was $250 USD for U.S. residents and $260 USD for non-U.S. residents, plus a processing fee. Charity entries require a minimum fundraising commitment, while tour operator costs vary by package.
Note: Participants must be at least 16 years old on race day, and the course time limit is 6 hours and 30 minutes, based on an approximate 15-minute-per-mile pace.
The Chicago Marathon route
The Chicago Marathon route is one of the biggest reasons runners target this race. It is flat, fast, and built for both elite racing and first-time marathoners chasing a major-city finish.
The race starts and finishes in Grant Park, then follows a 26.2-mile loop through Chicago. According to the official course information, runners pass through 29 neighborhoods, with aid stations roughly every one to two miles and timing checkpoints at the start, every 5K, the halfway point (13.1 miles), Miles 20–25, Mile 25.2, and the finish line.
The course is also generally known for its broad city tour. Runners leave Grant Park and head through downtown early, then move north through areas such as River North, Old Town, Lincoln Park, and Lakeview before turning back toward the center of the city. The second half takes runners west and south through more neighborhood sections before the final push back toward Grant Park.
What makes the course fast is its profile. Chicago is famously flat, with few major elevation changes compared with hillier city marathons. That helps elite athletes target records and gives recreational runners a strong chance at a personal best, especially if race-day weather is favorable.
A few parts of the course stand out for atmosphere:
- Early downtown miles: Give runners an immediate sense of the city’s scale, with tall buildings, wide streets, and big race-day energy from the start.
- North Side neighborhoods: Known for strong crowds and steady support while runners settle into the first half of the race.
- Pilsen and Chinatown: Bring loud, distinctive energy later in the race, when many runners need an extra lift.
- Final stretch toward Grant Park: One of the most emotional parts of the course, as runners push through the last miles toward the finish of the Chicago Marathon 2026.
For international visitors turning race weekend into a longer holiday, Chicago can also be combined with other major tourist destinations in the USA.
Watching the Chicago Marathon
Watching the 2026 Chicago Marathon is a huge part of race weekend, but this article only covers the basics. For detailed viewing spots, cheer zones, and race-day planning, see the dedicated guide on how to watch the Chicago Marathon.
The main thing to know is that spectators are not allowed in the Grant Park start and finish areas, which are reserved for registered runners, event staff, and approved guests. Instead, supporters should choose a point along the Chicago Marathon route and meet their runner afterward in the designated post-race areas.
For atmosphere, the North Side neighborhoods, Pilsen, Chinatown, and the final miles toward Grant Park are all popular places to cheer. Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) trains are usually the easiest way to move around on race day, as road closures and no-parking zones make driving difficult.
If you’re staying beyond race weekend, you could also use Chicago as part of a longer itinerary or add one of several weekend trips in the USA before or after the marathon. And if you’re visiting from overseas, making sure your phone will work in the USA and setting up a USA eSIM before race weekend can also make it easier to stay in touch with your group and coordinate where to meet after the finish.
Stay connected during the Chicago Marathon with Holafly
Whether you’re running the Chicago Marathon 2026 or flying in to cheer someone across the finish, staying connected on race weekend keeps your whole group on the same page. With an eSIM for the USA from Holafly, you get unlimited data and speeds up to 5G, so you can follow live tracking, navigate CTA routes between cheer zones, and coordinate where to meet in the post-race areas without hunting for a local SIM or worrying about roaming fees. Set it up before you leave home and it activates the moment you land in Chicago, with 24/7 customer support on hand if you need it.
And if your plan runs out while you’re still exploring the city after the race, Holafly has your back with Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data. Just keep your eSIM installed and the 1 GB refreshes automatically every month, at no extra cost, so you can still call a ride from Grant Park or message your group on the way back to the hotel even after your main plan is used up.
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