RACEROVE

World Marathon Major #2 · Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Marathon 2027

Checked against the race's own pages on September 25, 2026

Historic point-to-point race and qualification-driven entry.

There are 7 ways to get an entry. Each is below, with when it opens, taken from the race's own site.

Course, weather and travel on RaceRoveTrack your World MajorsOfficial site
Next race
Monday, April 19, 2027
Where
Boston, Massachusetts
Ways to get in
7

On this page

Key facts

Next race
Monday, April 19, 2027
Latest race
April 20, 2026
Start
Hopkinton, MA
Finish
Boylston Street, Copley Square, Boston
Time limit
Official timing stops at 5:30 p.m., about 6 hours after the last official starter crosses the start line; roads begin reopening behind runners slower than about a 13:44 min/mile pace
Field
About 30,000 participants (official race page, 2027)
Official site
baa.org/races/boston-marathon

How to get into the Boston Marathon

Qualifying time (qualifier registration)

Runners must have a qualifying time for their age and gender (2027: e.g. 18-34 men 2:55:00, women and non-binary 3:25:00), run since 13 September 2025 on a certified course. A qualifying time only lets you apply; if the race is oversubscribed, the fastest runners relative to their standard are accepted (for 2026 the cutoff was 4:34 under standard, and 8,887 qualifiers were not accepted).

Downhill-course adjustment (new for 2027)

Times from courses with a net drop of 1,500-2,999 ft have 5:00 added, 3,000-5,999 ft have 10:00 added, and courses with a 6,000+ ft drop are not accepted.

Boston Qualifier Selection (new for 2027)

About 1,000 qualifiers whose times did not beat the cutoff are chosen at random for entry.

Ten-year streak

Qualifiers who have finished the last ten or more consecutive Boston Marathons may register early.

Official Charity Program

The B.A.A. gives invitational entries (no qualifying time needed) to selected nonprofits, which recruit runners who pledge to fundraise. In 2026 there were 193 nonprofits, and charity runners made up nearly 10% of the field.

International Tour Program

A limited set of approved international tour operators sell entries to runners who live outside the United States.

Abbott WMM Race Draw

Runners with an Abbott WMM Runner Portal who meet the draw's completed-Majors requirement can enter a small draw; eligibility and results show in the portal.

The course

A point-to-point course from Main Street in Hopkinton through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline into Boston, finishing on Boylston Street at Copley Square. The Newton Hills (miles 17.5-21) are the famous climbs.

Aid stations, the elevation profile, typical race-day weather and travel from your home are on the Boston Marathon race page.

Good to know

  • There's no general lottery: a qualifying time, a charity place, a tour package or an invitation are the ways in.
  • Track a runner on the free B.A.A. Racing App (iPhone and Android): search by name, bib or hometown for live position and checkpoint alerts.

Boston Marathon questions

When is the next Boston Marathon?
Monday, April 19, 2027. Confirm on the official site before you book travel.
How do you get into the Boston Marathon?
There are 7 ways in: qualifying time (qualifier registration); downhill-course adjustment (new for 2027); boston qualifier selection (new for 2027); ten-year streak; official charity program; international tour program; abbott wmm race draw. Qualifier registration is one week in September: for 2027 it ran 14-18 September 2026 (10 a.m. ET Monday to 5 p.m. ET Friday), was not first-come first-served, and all applicants hear by early October 2026. It is now closed; a record 33,656 qualifier applications were received.
What is the Boston Marathon time limit?
Official timing stops at 5:30 p.m., about 6 hours after the last official starter crosses the start line; roads begin reopening behind runners slower than about a 13:44 min/mile pace
How many people run the Boston Marathon?
About 30,000 participants (official race page, 2027)
Does the Boston Marathon count toward the Six Star medal?
Yes. It is one of the original six races behind the Six Star medal, with Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Sydney and Cape Town joined the Majors later and aren't part of that medal. The series' next milestone is the Nine Star medal.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from these pages, read on September 25, 2026. Dates, fees and entry rules change every year; the official site is the authority.

  • baa.org: B.A.A. Racing App: free, iPhone and Android, live tracking
  • baa.org: Checkpoint alerts for a favorite runner
  • baa.org: 131st race on 19 April 2027, 30,000 participants, start in Hopkinton, qualifier registration 14-18 Sept 2026 closed, 33,656 applications
  • baa.org: 2027 qualifying standards, window from 13 Sept 2025, downhill adjustments, Boston Qualifier Selection (~1,000), 10-year streak early registration, 2026 cutoff 4:34 / 8,887 not accepted
  • baa.org: 2027 registration dates, Boston Qualifier Selection, notifications by early October 2026
  • baa.org: 130th race on Monday 20 April 2026; official timing ceases 5:30 PM (~6 hours after last starter); invitational/charity entries need no qualifying time; 10-year streak early registration
  • baa.org: Road reopening at ~13:44 min/mile pace; finish area closes about 5:30 p.m.
  • baa.org: Course towns from Hopkinton to Boston, Newton Hills miles 17.5-21, Boylston Street / Copley Square finish
  • baa.org: How the Official Charity Program works
  • baa.org: 193 nonprofits in the 2026 charity program, nearly 10% of the field, $57.3M raised
  • baa.org: International Tour Program: limited approved operators selling entries to non-US residents

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