Chicago Marathon

Event

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is scheduled to take place in Chicago on Sunday, October 11, 2026. This will be the 48th running of the event. The race distance is 26.2 miles. The event includes a Para Athletics Program.

Applications, entry and requirements

The application window for guaranteed and non-guaranteed entries ran from October 21 to November 18, 2024 (times referenced in U.S. Central Time). Non-guaranteed entries are allocated by a drawing; duplicate applications are removed and selected applicants were to be notified by email on December 11. Entry fees are $250 (USD) for U.S. residents and $260 (USD) for non-U.S. residents; a processing fee also applies and a credit card with an expiration date of December 2025 or later is required.

Guaranteed entry paths include time qualifiers, a legacy finisher pathway, charity team entries, approved tour operators, completion of the Chicago Distance Series, and certain cancelled-entry or pregnancy/postpartum provisions. Time qualifying standards vary by age and division and applicants must submit a marathon finish on or after January 1, 2024, from a course certified by an official governing body. Charity entries require fundraising of no less than $2,200 (USD) and are available on a first-come first-served basis until September 15, 2026 or when capacity is reached. The High Performance Program had specific standards and a capacity of 150 participants; that program reached capacity and closed.

General event requirements: participants must be at least 16 years old (16-17 require parental permission), complete the course within 6:30:59, pick up their own packet at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo and show a government-issued photo ID matching their registration name. Race entries are nontransferable and registration fees are nonrefundable. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Events nearby