The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is entering its final race-week preparations, with more than 55,000 runners scheduled to take part on Sunday, October 11, 2026, in what will be the largest field in the event’s history.
Chicago is preparing for one of its biggest annual sporting weekends as professional athletes, recreational runners, charity participants and spectators converge on the city. The 48th running will begin and finish in Grant Park, with competitors traveling through 29 Chicago neighborhoods during the 26.2-mile course.
The 2026 event has already generated considerable attention because of its record participation, deep international elite field and the return of defending champions. At the same time, race-week visitors are preparing for transportation restrictions, changing weather conditions and a packed schedule surrounding Sunday’s marathon.
2026 Chicago Marathon Date and Start Times
The marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, with runners beginning in waves throughout the morning.
The professional competitions start before the general field. The opening schedule is designed to separate wheelchair athletes, elite competitors and recreational participants while keeping the race moving efficiently through Chicago.
Key start times include:
- Professional men’s wheelchair division: 7:20 a.m.
- Professional women’s wheelchair division: 7:21 a.m.
- Handcycle division: 7:23 a.m.
- Professional men’s and women’s race: 7:30 a.m.
- High Performance Program: 7:32 a.m.
- Wave 1: 7:35 a.m.
- Wave 2: 8:00 a.m.
- Wave 3: 8:35 a.m.
Grant Park will open to runners at 5:30 a.m.
The early opening gives participants time to complete security procedures, reach their assigned corrals, use gear-check facilities and prepare for the start.
Runners should pay close attention to their assigned wave because missing a designated start window can create significant complications on race morning.
A Record Field Takes Over Chicago
The size of this year’s field is one of the defining stories surrounding the race.
More than 55,000 runners are expected to participate, establishing a new record for the event. Participants represent all 50 states as well as more than 100 countries.
That international reach has helped turn the Chicago race into a major destination event for marathoners.
The field includes runners with very different goals. Some are competing for elite honors, while others have spent months preparing for their first marathon. Thousands more will attempt to improve previous personal records or complete the distance while raising money for charitable organizations.
Charity running remains an important part of the event. Roughly one-third of the 2026 field is expected to be connected with official charity fundraising.
The sheer number of participants also creates a major challenge for spectators. Large sections of Chicago will become crowded throughout Sunday morning as runners and supporters move between neighborhoods.
Elite Competition Adds Another Layer of Excitement
The professional races will provide some of the most closely watched moments of the weekend.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo is returning as the defending men’s champion. He won the 2025 Chicago Marathon in 2:02:23, producing one of the fastest performances in the race’s long history.
Kiplimo arrives in Chicago with an impressive recent marathon résumé. His 2026 campaign has included a 2:00:28 performance in London, placing him among the fastest marathon runners in the world.
His return gives the men’s race an obvious headline competitor, but he will face strong opposition from a field filled with internationally accomplished athletes.
The women’s competition also features the return of defending champion Hawi Feysa.
Feysa will have to contend with a highly competitive group that includes Sharon Lokedi and Brigid Kosgei. Both athletes bring significant major-marathon experience to Chicago, making the women’s race particularly difficult to predict.
American runners will also attract attention as they attempt to challenge the international contenders.
Why the Chicago Course Is Known for Fast Times
Chicago’s marathon course is one of the most recognizable routes in American distance running.
The course is relatively flat compared with many other major-city marathons. That profile makes the event attractive to athletes pursuing fast finishing times.
The route begins in Grant Park before taking runners through a wide selection of Chicago neighborhoods. Competitors experience a mixture of downtown streets, residential communities and major city landmarks before heading back toward the finish.
The marathon has produced seven world records throughout its history.
Course design is only one reason the event produces fast performances. Extensive crowd support can also play a role, particularly during the difficult final miles.
For recreational runners, the constant presence of spectators can provide an important psychological boost when fatigue begins to set in.
Grant Park Serves as the Center of Race Weekend
Grant Park remains the heart of the marathon.
The starting area fills with runners during the early morning hours, while the finish becomes the destination for competitors completing their 26.2-mile journey.
Spectators will have different access times from runners. Grant Park is scheduled to open to spectators at 9:30 a.m.
The post-race 27th Mile celebration is also scheduled to operate from 9:30 a.m. through 4 p.m.
For families and friends waiting for runners, advance planning will be important. The sheer size of the event makes it difficult to move quickly between different sections of the city.
Choosing a meeting location before race morning can help reduce confusion once downtown becomes crowded.
Health and Fitness Expo Continues During Race Week
Race preparations are already underway at McCormick Place, where the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo is taking place.
The Expo schedule is:
- Thursday, October 8: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, October 9: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 10: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Participants are required to collect their race materials during the designated Expo period.
The event is more than a packet pickup location. It serves as a major gathering point for runners during the days leading up to the marathon.
Participants can complete their race preparations while experiencing the broader atmosphere surrounding one of the largest marathon events in the United States.
Runners should avoid leaving essential race preparations until the final possible moment. A crowded Expo and busy transportation network can make last-minute arrangements more difficult.
Weather Could Become an Important Race-Day Factor
Weather conditions will be worth watching as Sunday approaches.
The latest forecast calls for partly sunny conditions in Chicago on marathon day. Current projections indicate a high near 70 degrees and a low around 58 degrees, with a 20% chance of showers before early afternoon.
Those conditions could feel warm for runners who are accustomed to cooler marathon temperatures.
Saturday is currently expected to be warmer, with temperatures potentially reaching around 80 degrees. The difference between Saturday and Sunday means runners should consider the conditions they will encounter throughout race weekend rather than focusing only on race morning.
Forecasts can change as the event approaches.
Participants should continue checking official race communications and current weather information before leaving for Grant Park.
Chicago Traffic and Street Closures
The marathon creates extensive transportation changes throughout the city.
Roads along the race route will be closed at different times to protect runners and allow the competition to proceed safely. Many course-related streets are expected to remain closed from approximately 6 a.m. until 4 p.m., although reopening times vary by location.
Drivers should expect significant delays.
Residents and visitors who need to cross the marathon route should plan their journeys carefully. Public transportation and walking may be more practical than driving in some areas during the busiest parts of the event.
Spectators should also remember that a short distance on a normal day can require substantially more time during the marathon.
Planning around the race route is therefore just as important for spectators as it is for competitors.
How Fans Can Follow the Race
People who cannot watch the marathon from the course will still have several ways to follow the competition.
The official Chicago Marathon app provides race information, tracking capabilities and leaderboards. Family members can use participant-tracking features to monitor a runner’s progress during the event.
This can be especially useful when supporting someone who is competing in a large field.
Instead of attempting to follow a runner physically from one part of the course to another, spectators can use tracking information to identify an appropriate viewing location.
Official results will also become available once the race has concluded.
As of October 8, there are no 2026 finishing times or winners because the marathon itself is scheduled for October 11.
Lessons From the 2025 Marathon
Last year’s race set the stage for another highly competitive edition.
Kiplimo won the men’s race in 2:02:23, establishing the second-fastest winning performance in Chicago Marathon history.
American distance runner Conner Mantz also delivered a standout performance. His fourth-place finish in 2:04:43 broke the American marathon record.
The wheelchair competition produced another memorable result when Marcel Hug captured his sixth Chicago victory.
Those performances demonstrate the level of competition expected from the professional fields in 2026.
For the majority of participants, however, the race will be less about podium finishes and more about personal achievement.
A Major Fundraising Event
Chicago’s marathon has developed into an enormous fundraising platform.
Participants raised a record $47.1 million for charitable organizations during the 2025 event. The total surpassed the previous fundraising record by approximately $11 million.
The financial impact extends beyond charitable giving.
The 2025 marathon generated an estimated $755.9 million in economic activity for the Chicago metropolitan area. Hotels, restaurants, transportation services and other businesses benefit from the large influx of runners and visitors.
The record field expected in 2026 could make this year’s event another major economic occasion for the city.
Applications for the 2027 Race Open
While the 2026 runners prepare for Sunday, attention has already shifted toward the following edition.
Applications for the 2027 marathon opened October 8 at 8 a.m. Central Time.
The application period runs through October 29 at 2 p.m. Central Time.
The 49th running will take place Sunday, October 10, 2027.
Runners seeking non-guaranteed entry will participate in the drawing process. Submitting an application earlier during the application window does not increase the likelihood of being selected.
Drawing results are scheduled to be released December 8.
Several routes to guaranteed entry are available, including qualifying times, charity participation, official tour operators, legacy status, the Chicago Distance Series and other approved programs.
For U.S. residents, the 2027 entry fee is $250. The listed fee for participants residing outside the United States is $260.
Qualifying standards depend on age and division. For runners ages 16 through 34, the listed marathon standards are 2:50:00 for men and 3:20:00 for women or non-binary applicants.
What Makes the 2026 Race Significant
The scale of this year’s competition is difficult to overlook.
The combination of a record field, returning champions, elite international athletes and Chicago’s fast course creates an event with interest at both the professional and recreational levels.
For elite competitors, the focus will be on winning and producing world-class times.
For thousands of other runners, success will have a completely different meaning.
Some participants will be chasing qualifying standards. Others will be trying to beat personal records. First-time marathoners will simply be looking to reach the finish line after months of preparation.
Charity runners will add another layer to the event by turning their marathon experience into a fundraising campaign.
All of those stories will unfold across the same 26.2-mile course.
Race Weekend Is Nearly Here
Chicago is now only days away from welcoming its largest marathon field ever.
The final preparations involve far more than the runners themselves. Volunteers, medical teams, transportation workers, organizers, police officers, spectators and local businesses all play important roles in making the event possible.
For runners, preparation now shifts toward execution. Knowing the start time, reaching the correct location early, monitoring weather conditions and following race instructions will be critical.
Spectators face their own challenge: navigating a city transformed by one of the world’s biggest annual road races.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon remains one of the defining events on Chicago’s sporting calendar, and the 2026 edition is positioned to make another significant mark on the race’s history.
When the starting guns sound Sunday morning, more than 55,000 runners will begin a 26.2-mile journey that could create thousands of personal victories and a few unforgettable moments in Chicago history.