The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors and one of the fastest courses in elite marathon running. The 2026 edition takes place on Sunday 11 October, with around 50,000 runners winding through 29 of Chicago’s neighbourhoods before finishing in Grant Park.
What is the Chicago Marathon?
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is an annual 42.195 kilometre road race held in Chicago, Illinois. It forms part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series alongside Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Sydney and New York. The race includes an elite field competing for prize money, a mass field of registered runners, and wheelchair divisions.
Chicago is celebrated for its flat, fast and predominantly loop-based course. The world record has been set in Chicago on multiple occasions, most recently by Kelvin Kiptum, whose 2:00:35 in 2023 lowered the previous world best and stands as the current men’s world record in the marathon.
How the race works
The course is a loop from and to Grant Park that travels through 29 of the city’s neighbourhoods. Elite athletes compete for prize money and performance bonuses, while the mass field is drawn through a non-guaranteed lottery operated by the race. Charity entries, international tour operator places and time-qualifier entries are also available.
When is the Chicago Marathon?
The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon takes place on Sunday 11 October 2026. The wheelchair race typically starts at 7:20am local time, followed by the elite women at 7:21am and the elite men and the first wave of the mass field at 7:30am. Central Time is UTC minus five during October. The final finishers cross the line before the 2pm course closure.
Where is the Chicago Marathon?
The start and finish are in Grant Park, the large lakefront park in the centre of downtown Chicago. Runners pass through River North, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, the West Loop, Little Italy, Pilsen, Chinatown, Bronzeville and many other neighbourhoods before turning onto Michigan Avenue for the final approach. The flat profile, wide roads and big-city crowds have helped make Chicago one of the fastest marathons in the world.
Key Contenders
Chicago consistently attracts world-class fields. Recent men’s races have been headlined by Kelvin Kiptum (before his death in early 2024), John Korir and other Kenyan and Ethiopian elites. The women’s race has seen world-record breaking performances from Ruth Chepngetich, including her 2:09:56 in 2024. The 2026 elite field will be confirmed by race organisers Bank of America Chicago Marathon in the months before the race and is expected to include defending champions as well as challengers targeting fast autumn times.
Chicago typically doubles as an early qualifier for the next year’s major world championship marathons and is often the last fast marathon of the year for athletes building toward Olympic or World Athletics selection.
How to Watch
In the United States, the 2026 Chicago Marathon is broadcast live in English and Spanish on NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago and TeleXitos from 7am to 11am Central Time, with streaming available on nbcchicago.com, telemundochicago.com and the NBC 5 and Telemundo apps as well as Roku and Apple TV. Live streaming also runs on the Chicago Distance Series YouTube channel. Internationally, the race is distributed via the Abbott World Marathon Majors broadcast network and shown on Eurosport and Discovery+ in the UK and Europe.
History and Records
The Chicago Marathon was first held in 1977 with 4,200 participants and has grown into one of the largest marathons in the world. It became part of the founding group of the World Marathon Majors and has repeatedly hosted world-record performances. Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 in 2023 is the current men’s marathon world record. On the women’s side, Ruth Chepngetich set a world record of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024, becoming the first woman to break 2:10 for the marathon. Paula Radcliffe’s 2:17:18 in 2002 was also a world best at the time.
The race is notable for its inclusive approach, with a strong wheelchair division won repeatedly by Daniel Romanchuk and Susannah Scaroni, and a rich age-group field featuring runners from more than 100 countries.
Tickets and Attendance
Entry to the Chicago Marathon is primarily via a non-guaranteed drawing operated by Bank of America Chicago Marathon, with guaranteed entries available via charity programmes, time qualifiers and international tour operators. Spectating is free along the course, with the best viewing spots in Grant Park, on Michigan Avenue and near the final turn onto Roosevelt Road. The race expo at McCormick Place is open in the days before the race for bib collection and exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2026 Chicago Marathon start?
The elite women start at 7:21am local time, followed by elite men and the first mass wave at 7:30am on Sunday 11 October 2026.
Where is the Chicago Marathon held?
The race starts and finishes in Grant Park in downtown Chicago, travelling through 29 neighbourhoods over the 26.2-mile course.
How can I watch the Chicago Marathon?
Live on NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago and TeleXitos in the US, with streaming on nbcchicago.com, and internationally on Eurosport and Discovery+ in Europe.
Who holds the Chicago Marathon course record?
Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 in 2023 is both the course and world record for men. Ruth Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 in 2024 is the women’s course and world record.
How do I enter the Chicago Marathon?
Entry is via a non-guaranteed drawing, alongside guaranteed places for charity runners, time qualifiers and international tour operators.