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Chicago, United States

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

How to get into the Chicago Marathon 2027

Race day · in 11 months

Part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors

Official site(opens in a new tab)

9 official routes into the Chicago Marathon 2027; 1 open now.

Chicago runs one shared three-week application window (October 8 to 29, 2026 for the 2027 race) in which runners ask for either guaranteed or non-guaranteed entry to the following year's race, and applying costs nothing. Guaranteed entry is reachable without speed: five Chicago finishes in the last ten years makes you a legacy finisher, and completing the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Chicago 13.1 and the marathon in one calendar year earns a Chicago Distance Series place. Faster runners can use the age-group time-qualifier table (2:50:00 for men and 3:20:00 for women and non-binary runners aged 16 to 34 for the 2027 race) or the High Performance Program, which is capped at 300 athletes. Everyone else goes into the non-guaranteed drawing, whose results arrive in December. Selling or transferring a Chicago bib is strictly prohibited.

Chicago's October marathon, held on the second Sunday of October. Entry is by a non-guaranteed drawing or one of several guaranteed paths (time qualifier, legacy finisher, charity, tour operator and others).

Route summary

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Qualifying time · High Performance Program entry — Opens 8 Oct 2026, 13:00 UTCand 2 more

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2 routes unconfirmed

Chicago Marathon 2027 drawing

Who can apply
Aged 16 or over on race day.
Residency
Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260).
Entry fee
US$250.00
Opened
Closed
Best for
Chicago hopefuls with no time qualifier, legacy record or charity commitment who are happy to leave their place to a random draw.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
The organiser removes duplicate applications before the Chicago drawing and says the moment you apply within the three-week window has no bearing on selection, so one application is all you need. Selected runners get a short payment window in December, and anyone not drawn can still register through select official charities or tour operators.

Run by Abbott World Marathon Majors

Who can apply
Current AbbottWMM Gold Club members (paid annual membership, capped numbers); race draws are subject to their individual terms.
Entry fee
Not yet published by the organiser
Opens
Not yet published by the organiser
Closes
Not yet published by the organiser
Best for
Committed Majors runners willing to pay a yearly membership for an additional, members-only draw at every Major.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Membership is capped and sold for the following year from December, so join the waitlist early if you want to be in the next intake. It renews automatically each year and is for one person only; treat it as an extra ticket in a small draw of 50 places per race rather than a guaranteed entry.

Chicago Marathon qualifying times

Who can apply
Marathon finish under the High Performance standard on a certified course on or after 2025-01-01; masters (40+) must have run the masters standard as a masters athlete.
Entry fee
Not yet published by the organiser
Opened
Closes
Best for
Sub-elite marathoners (sub 2:25:00 men, sub 2:45:00 women and non-binary athletes) wanting Chicago entry at a reduced fee.
How competitive
The High Performance Program has a capacity of 300 participants and closes on its published deadline or as soon as those 300 places are filled, whichever is first.
Tips
Masters athletes aged 40 and over get softer High Performance standards (sub 2:35:00 men, sub 2:50:00 women and non-binary), and the qualifying marathon must be on a certified course run on or after January 1, 2025 for the 2027 race. The organiser describes only a reduced fee, so check the amount when you apply.
Who can apply
Marathon finish within the published age-group qualifying standard, run on a certified course between 2025-01-01 and 2026-10-29; age judged on 2027-10-10.
Residency
Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260).
Entry fee
US$250.00
Opened
Closed
Best for
Marathoners whose certified-course finish beats the Chicago age-group standard and who want a place without the drawing.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Chicago accepts full-marathon times only, run on a USATF, World Athletics or similarly certified course, and makes no exceptions for half marathons, 50Ks or narrowly missed standards. Your age group is judged on race day, and the claim must be made inside the October application window, with payment due by mid-November.

Chicago Marathon charity places

Who can apply
Accepted by one of the international charities on the realbuzz listing and meeting its fundraising target.
Residency
Runners residing outside the United States only.
Entry fee
Not yet published by the organiser
Fundraising minimum
Not yet published by the organiser
Opens
Not yet published by the organiser
Closes
Not yet published by the organiser
Best for
Runners living outside the United States who would rather fundraise for a charity based in their own part of the world.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
The realbuzz partnership is the Chicago organiser's route for non-U.S. residents to support international charities; it runs through realbuzz's own portal rather than the Charity Index. The organiser's charity page does not say which edition these places cover, so confirm the year and the charity's target before you commit.
Who can apply
Must meet the chosen charity's fundraising requirement (minimum $2,500).
Residency
Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $335).
Entry fee
US$325.00
Fundraising minimum
US$2,500.00
Opens
Not yet published by the organiser
Closes
Best for
Runners ready to raise at least $2,500 for a Chicago Marathon Charity Program partner in return for a guaranteed bib.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Chicago charity entries are first-come, first-served until early September or until a team fills, so use the Charity Index, which only lists teams with entries still available, and contact the charity directly. Charity entrants pay a higher entry fee than other runners ($325 for U.S. residents for the 2027 race), and teams may set targets above the $2,500 floor.

Chicago Marathon tour operators

Who can apply
Not yet published by the organiser
Entry fee
Not yet published by the organiser
Package price
Not yet published by the organiser
Opens
Not yet published by the organiser
Closes
Best for
Travellers who want their Chicago entry wrapped into a package with flights and a hotel from an approved operator.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Only operators in the official Chicago Marathon Tour Operator Program hold guaranteed entries, each runs its own package and pricing, and you book directly with the operator found in the organiser's tour index. Tour entries stay available first-come, first-served until August of race year, and they are excluded from the optional refundable registration.

Chicago Marathon direct entry

Who can apply
Finished all three 2026 Chicago Distance Series events.
Residency
Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260).
Entry fee
US$250.00
Opened
Closed
Best for
Runners willing to race the Shamrock Shuffle 8K and Chicago 13.1 before the marathon to earn next year's Chicago entry.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Only the 8K run at the Shamrock Shuffle qualifies for the Chicago Distance Series, and all three events must fall in the same calendar year; each race is entered separately on its own website. Finishers receive a series medal, and the organiser notifies eligible runners in the days after the marathon (October 13 in 2026).
Who can apply
Five or more Chicago Marathon finishes within the last 10 years.
Residency
Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260).
Entry fee
US$250.00
Opened
Closed
Best for
Loyal Chicago Marathon finishers with at least five finishes of this race in the past ten years.
How competitive
Not published by the organiser
Tips
Only Chicago Marathon finishes count toward legacy status: 2020 registrants are treated as 2020 finishers, but 2020 Virtual Experience results and years you signed up without finishing are ignored. Anyone whose fifth finish comes at this October's race should submit the legacy application after crossing the line.

Which Chicago Marathon route suits you?

Anyone can apply
Runners from overseas
Runners with a qualifying time
Runners happy to fundraise
Runners who want a guaranteed place

Entering the Chicago Marathon from overseas

Runners living outside the United States can apply to the Chicago drawing and the guaranteed paths in the same window as U.S. residents, paying a slightly higher non-U.S. fee ($260 rather than $250 for the 2027 race, or $335 rather than $325 on a charity entry, plus a processing fee). The Chicago Marathon Tour Operator Program works with more than 100 operators whose packages typically bundle entry, airfare and hotel, though not every country has an approved operator. The organiser also partners with realbuzz so that runners resident outside the U.S. can raise money for international charities. A marathon run abroad counts toward the time-qualifier path only if the course is certified by USATF, World Athletics or a similar governing body.

Chicago Marathon 2028 drawing: dates coming soon

The organiser has not announced the Chicago Marathon 2028 entry dates yet. We don't guess them: here is what is known so far.

  • The 2027 Non-guaranteed entry drawing ran 8 Oct 2026, 13:00 UTC – 29 Oct 2026, 19:00 UTC.
  • The 2027 High Performance Program entry runs 8 Oct 2026, 13:00 UTC – 1 Sept 2027.
  • The 2027 Time qualifier guaranteed entry ran 8 Oct 2026, 13:00 UTC – 29 Oct 2026, 19:00 UTC.
  • The 2027 Official charity places closes 10 Sept 2027.
  • The 2027 International travel partners closes 10 Aug 2027.
  • The 2027 Chicago Distance Series finisher entry ran 13 Oct 2026 – 29 Oct 2026, 19:00 UTC.
  • The 2027 Legacy finisher guaranteed entry ran 8 Oct 2026, 13:00 UTC – 29 Oct 2026, 19:00 UTC.

Chicago Marathon FAQ

How do I get into the Chicago Marathon 2027?

There are 9 official routes into the Chicago Marathon 2027: drawing, qualifying times, charity places, tour operators and direct entry. Open now: Official charity places.

When does the Chicago Marathon 2027 drawing open and close?

The 2027 Non-guaranteed entry drawing ran 8 Oct 2026, 13:00 UTC – 29 Oct 2026, 19:00 UTC. The dates of the 2027 Gold Club member draws: 2027 are not yet published by the organiser.

Is there a qualifying time for the Chicago Marathon?

Yes. High Performance Program entry: Marathon finish under the High Performance standard on a certified course on or after 2025-01-01; masters (40+) must have run the masters standard as a masters athlete. Time qualifier guaranteed entry: Marathon finish within the published age-group qualifying standard, run on a certified course between 2025-01-01 and 2026-10-29; age judged on 2027-10-10.

How much does a Chicago Marathon charity place cost?

International charity places (realbuzz): the fundraising minimum is not yet published by the organiser. Official charity places: a fundraising minimum of US$2,500.00.

Can overseas runners enter the Chicago Marathon?

Non-guaranteed entry drawing: Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260). Time qualifier guaranteed entry: Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260). International charity places (realbuzz): Runners residing outside the United States only. Official charity places: Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $335). Chicago Distance Series finisher entry: Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260). Legacy finisher guaranteed entry: Open to U.S. and non-U.S. residents (non-U.S. residents pay $260). Official tour operators sell travel packages that include an entry (International travel partners).

Does applying early or more than once help in the Chicago Marathon drawing?

No. The organiser removes duplicate applications before the drawing, and the time at which someone applies during the window has no bearing on their chances of selection.

If I cancel my Chicago Marathon entry, do I get a place the following year?

Registered runners who cancel through their Participant Account by the published deadline get access to a guaranteed entry for the next year, but must apply again in the application window and pay the entry fee again, as all fees are non-refundable. This does not apply to charity or tour operator entrants or to anyone who cancelled the previous year, and a cancellation cannot be undone.

How old do you have to be to run the Chicago Marathon?

Participants must be 16 years or older on race day, and the course has a time limit of 6 hours and 30 minutes.

Other editions

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Run by Abbott World Marathon Majors

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