When is the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and how do runners secure guaranteed or lottery entry?
The 49th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 10, 2027 (the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend), starting and finishing in Chicago's Grant Park. The application window for both Guaranteed Entry (time qualifiers, legacy finishers, charity runners, and international tour groups) and the Non-Guaranteed General Drawing (lottery) typically opens in mid-October 2026 and closes in mid-November 2026, with lottery selection results announced in early December 2026.
Chicago Marathon 2027 (Sun, Oct 10) Time-Qualifier & 26.2-Mile Pace Calculator
Check guaranteed entry time-qualifier standards and calculate 5K, 10K, and Half-Marathon splits
1Chicago Marathon 2027 Race Date, Start Corral Waves & Abbott Health & Fitness Expo
Held annually on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be run on Sunday, October 10, 2027. As one of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors (alongside Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Sydney, and New York City), the race attracts over 50,000 finishers and 1.7 million streetside spectators.
Race weekend begins at McCormick Place Convention Center with the two-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9, 2027. Every registered participant must attend the Expo in person with a valid government-issued photo ID and their official participant packet pickup email to collect their race bib and timing device (no race-day bib pickup is permitted).
- Friday, Oct 8, 2027 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM CT) & Saturday, Oct 9, 2027 (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CT): Mandatory Bib Pickup at McCormick Place.
- Saturday, Oct 9, 2027 (7:30 AM CT): Abbott Chicago 5K (3.1-mile tune-up race starting in Grant Park).
- Sunday, Oct 10, 2027 Race Day Start Schedule (Central Time): 7:20 AM Mobility Impaired/Wheelchair Start • 7:30 AM Wave 1 (Red/Elite Corrals A–E) • 8:00 AM Wave 2 (Blue Corrals F–J) • 8:35 AM Wave 3 (Orange Corrals K–N).
- Official Course Time Limit: 6 hours and 30 minutes (15:00/mile pace) after the last Wave 3 runner crosses the start line.
2How to Enter the 2027 Chicago Marathon: Guaranteed Qualifying Times vs. Lottery & Charity
Because demand for the Chicago Marathon exceeds 120,000 applications for roughly 50,000 starting spots, runners must apply during the autumn 2026 registration window through one of two tracks: Guaranteed Entry or the Non-Guaranteed Drawing (Lottery).
Runners who meet the official Bank of America Chicago Marathon age-graded time-qualifying standards at a USATF- or World Athletics-certified full marathon (26.2 miles; half-marathon times are not accepted) during the qualifying window receive automatic guaranteed entry upon verification.
- 1. Time Qualifier Guaranteed Entry: Men 18–34 (Sub-3:05:00), Women 18–34 (Sub-3:35:00) — see full age table below.
- 2. Legacy Finisher Guaranteed Entry: Runners who have officially finished the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 5 or more times within the last 10 years.
- 3. Official Charity Program: Commit to fundraising between $1,500 and $2,200 USD for one of 190+ official charity partners.
- 4. Non-Guaranteed General Lottery: Free to enter the drawing; credit card is charged the ~$250 entry fee only if selected in December.
326.2-Mile Course Map Strategy: 29 Chicago Neighborhoods & GPS Tunnel Pacing
Starting and finishing at Columbus Drive in Grant Park, the Chicago Marathon course is famous worldwide as the fastest marathon circuit in history—having produced both the Men's World Record (Kelvin Kiptum, 2:00:35) and Women's World Record (Ruth Chepngetich, 2:09:56). With virtually zero hills (total elevation gain of just 243 feet) until the modest 'Mount Roosevelt' overpass at Mile 26, Chicago is the ultimate Personal Record (PR) and Boston Qualifier (BQ) course.
However, experienced marathoners warn first-time Chicago runners about one critical technical hazard during the first 3 miles: the towering skyscrapers of the Chicago Loop and the underground Columbus Drive / Wacker Drive tunnels scramble GPS watch signals, causing Garmin and Apple Watch pace readouts to jump wildly.
- Miles 1–3 (The Loop GPS Trap): Disable auto-lap on your GPS watch and use manual splits at the physical mile markers for the first 5K so you do not accidentally sprint the opening miles.
- Miles 4–13.1 (Lincoln Park & Old Town): Flat, tree-lined avenues heading north to Wrigleyville before turning south back toward the Loop.
- Miles 14–21 (West Loop, Greektown, Little Italy, Pilsen & Chinatown): High-energy cultural neighborhoods with dense spectator crowds.
- Miles 22–26.2 (Bronzeville, Michigan Avenue & Grant Park Finish): Head north up Michigan Avenue, climb the brief Roosevelt Road bridge at Mile 26, and sprint left onto Columbus Drive to the finish.
4Race Weekend Hotel Strategy, CTA 'L' Train Access & Spectator Viewing Spots
Because all 50,000+ runners converge on Grant Park between 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM on Sunday, October 10, 2027, booking a hotel within walking distance of Michigan Avenue (The Loop, River North, or South Loop) or directly on a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red, Blue, or Brown Line 'L' train station eliminates race-morning traffic stress.
For friends and family cheering runners, the flat cloverleaf layout of the Chicago course allows spectators to see their runner three to four times using a single $5 CTA 1-Day Ventra Pass without ever needing a car.
- Best Spectator CTA Hop-Around Route: Watch Mile 2 at State & Grand (Red Line) → Walk 3 blocks west to LaSalle St for Mile 11.5 → Take Red Line south to Cermak-Chinatown for Mile 21.5 → Take Red Line to Roosevelt for the Mile 26 finish.
- Ideal October Chicago Race Weather: Average start-line temperature on October 10 is 46°F–52°F (8°C–11°C), warming to ~60°F (15.5°C) by noon.
Chicago Marathon Guaranteed Time-Qualifier Cutoff Standards by Age Group & Division
| Age Group on Race Day (Oct 10, 2027) | Men's Qualifying Standard | Women's / Non-Binary Standard | Required Average Pace (Men / Women) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 18–34 | Sub 3:05:00 | Sub 3:35:00 | 7:03 /mi (M) • 8:12 /mi (W) |
| Ages 35–39 | Sub 3:10:00 | Sub 3:40:00 | 7:14 /mi (M) • 8:23 /mi (W) |
| Ages 40–44 | Sub 3:15:00 | Sub 3:45:00 | 7:26 /mi (M) • 8:34 /mi (W) |
| Ages 45–49 | Sub 3:25:00 | Sub 3:55:00 | 7:49 /mi (M) • 8:57 /mi (W) |
| Ages 50–54 | Sub 3:30:00 | Sub 4:00:00 | 8:00 /mi (M) • 9:09 /mi (W) |
| Ages 55–59 | Sub 3:40:00 | Sub 4:10:00 | 8:23 /mi (M) • 9:32 /mi (W) |
| Ages 60–64 | Sub 3:55:00 | Sub 4:25:00 | 8:57 /mi (M) • 10:06 /mi (W) |
| Ages 65–69 | Sub 4:10:00 | Sub 4:40:00 | 9:32 /mi (M) • 10:40 /mi (W) |
| Ages 70–74 | Sub 4:25:00 | Sub 4:55:00 | 10:06 /mi (M) • 11:15 /mi (W) |
| Ages 75+ | Sub 4:40:00 | Sub 5:10:00 | 10:40 /mi (M) • 11:49 /mi (W) |
4-Step 2027 Chicago Marathon Registration & Race-Ready Blueprint
Submit Your Guaranteed or Lottery Application in Oct–Nov 2026
Create your participant account on chicagomarathon.com during the autumn registration window and upload your verified marathon finish certificate if applying as a Time Qualifier.
Reserve a Refundable Loop or River North Hotel Immediately
Lock in a hotel room near Grant Park or along the CTA Red/Blue Line as soon as lottery results drop in December (or use the official Maritz Global Events housing block).
Begin Your 18-Week Marathon Training Block in Early June 2027
An 18-week structured training plan for the October 10, 2027 race begins on Monday, June 7, 2027; a 16-week plan begins on Monday, June 21, 2027.
Pick Up Your Bib at McCormick Place on Friday, October 8, 2027
Arrive on Friday rather than Saturday afternoon to avoid peak Expo lines, save your legs on Saturday, and study your Grant Park security gate entrance.
Curated Expert Video Walkthroughs & Wall Street Briefings
Frequently Asked Questions (Verified Statutory Answers)
Q1: What date is the 2027 Chicago Marathon?
The 49th Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 10, 2027. The race is always held on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend (the Sunday before the second Monday in October).
Q2: Can I use a half-marathon time to qualify for the Chicago Marathon?
No. Unlike the NYC Marathon (which accepts select NYRR half-marathon times), the Bank of America Chicago Marathon requires time-qualifiers to submit a verified finish time from a full 26.2-mile (42.195 km) USATF- or World Athletics-certified marathon.
Q3: What are the odds of getting into the Chicago Marathon through the lottery?
Historically, the Chicago Marathon general drawing (lottery) selects approximately 35% to 48% of applicants—significantly higher odds than the London, Tokyo, or New York City marathons. Runners who are not selected in the December lottery can still secure a bib through an Official Charity Partner.
Q4: Can someone else pick up my Chicago Marathon bib at the Expo?
No. Official Bank of America Chicago Marathon rules strictly prohibit proxy bib pickup. Every runner must appear in person at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo at McCormick Place on Friday, October 8 or Saturday, October 9, 2027 with government-issued photo ID.
