Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2026

The Chicago Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 11, 2026, with the first wave setting off at 7:30 am from Grant Park, right in the heart of downtown. October in Chicago typically brings cool, dry weather that's ideal for fast times: starting temperatures around 11°C (52°F), rising 8-11°C over the course of the morning. Despite the "Windy City" nickname, the route runs mostly through inland streets sheltered by buildings, so the wind off Lake Michigan is barely noticeable except in the opening miles along the shore.The start is a spectacle in itself: runners take off to the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up," with the Loop's skyscrapers — including the iconic 527-meter Willis Tower — as a backdrop during the opening miles. It's a remarkably flat course (only about 60 meters of accumulated elevation across the whole route), with just one notable rise: the small bridge over Roosevelt Road, affectionately nicknamed "Mount Roosevelt," in the final half-mile before the finish — a climb of just a few meters that, after 26.2 miles, feels like a mountain.The route passes through no fewer than 29 neighborhoods, each with its own personality and atmosphere:The Loop, River North, and Old Town (miles 1-5): skyscrapers, the historic Riverwalk, and the day's first big crowds.Lincoln Park (miles 5-6): a calmer, tree-lined stretch by the park's zoo, often featuring a Beatles tribute band.Lakeview and Boystown/Northalsted (miles 7-9): one of the liveliest points of the whole race — Chicago's historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood turns into a full-on party with music, dancing, and drag queens cheering runners on from early morning.Wrigleyville (around mile 8): just blocks from the legendary Chicago Cubs' stadium, with an enthusiastic crowd.Greektown and Little Italy / UIC Medical District (miles 16-18): the race's midpoint, with more festive energy.Pilsen (miles 18-19): considered by many runners the liveliest neighborhood on the whole course, with live mariachi bands and residents who literally come out of their homes to offer water, candy, and the occasional shot to runners.Chinatown (miles 20-21): the course's great emotional climax — runners pass under the iconic traditional gate amid drumming and lion and dragon dancers, right around the point where many start to feel accumulated fatigue.Bronzeville and South Loop (miles 22-25): the final stretch before turning onto Michigan Avenue toward the finish.Michigan Avenue and the Grant Park finish (miles 25-26.2): a very long straight stretch capped by the aforementioned "Mount Roosevelt" before crossing the finish line, with over 1.7 million spectators lining the entire course cheering all day long.It's without question one of the fastest courses on the planet: it's where the men's world record was set (Kelvin Kiptum, 2:00:35, in 2023) and the women's world record (Ruth Chepngetich, 2:09:56, in 2024), plus the American men's record (Conner Mantz, 2:04:43, in 2025). It's one of the 6 Abbott World Marathon Majors and holds World Athletics' highest certification tier.Bib collectionThe bib is collected at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo, at McCormick Place, over the three days before the race (Thursday through Saturday) — it isn't handed out on race day. The expo itself is a major weekend attraction, featuring running brands, talks, and activities for runners and their companions.RegistrationThis is one of the most in-demand races in the world: the main entry route is a lottery drawing over 100,000 applications for around 50,000 spots. There are also guaranteed entry paths: meeting a minimum marathon qualifying time, having completed 5 or more Chicago editions in the last 10 years ("Legacy" status), running with an official Charity Program team, booking through an approved tour operator, or completing all three races of the "Chicago Distance Series" in the same year. Once registered, if you can't take part, you can cancel your entry up until a few days before the race to access a guaranteed spot (paid separately) in the following year's event.