Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2026
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2026 is Sunday, October 11, 2026 (second Sunday of October). Start and finish are in Grant Park, Chicago. Official site: https://www.chicagomarathon.com/
Race-day schedule (Grant Park; times subject to change):
- Grant Park opens to runners, gear check, and start corrals: 5:30 a.m.
- Wave 1 start corrals close / men’s professional wheelchair start: 7:20 a.m.
- Women’s professional wheelchair start: 7:21 a.m.
- Handcycle start: 7:23 a.m.
- Men’s and women’s professional start: 7:30 a.m.
- High Performance Program start: 7:32 a.m.
- Wave 1 start: 7:35 a.m.
- Wave 2 start corrals close: 7:45 a.m.; Wave 2 start: 8:00 a.m.
- Wave 3 start corrals close: 8:10 a.m.; Wave 3 start: 8:35 a.m.
- Grant Park opens to spectators and 27th Mile Post-Race Party: 9:30 a.m.
- Gear check closes and post-race party ends: 4:00 p.m.
The 26.2-mile course tours 29 Chicago neighborhoods. The event typically draws about 55,000 runners from more than 100 countries and all 50 U.S. states, with an estimated 1.7 million spectators.
Race-week companion events (not the marathon itself):
- Abbott Health & Fitness Expo (packet pick-up): McCormick Place, North Building, Level 3, Hall B1 — Thursday, October 8, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, October 9–10, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Packets must be collected in person with photo ID; no race-day or mail pickup.
- Abbott Chicago 5K: Saturday, October 10, 7:30 a.m. (start on Ida B. Wells Drive between Columbus Drive and Michigan Avenue).
Packet pick-up, official housing (Maritz / Hilton Chicago headquarters hotel), the TCS race app, and the Nike training plan are described on the participant information pages. Contact: [email protected]. Future editions are listed through 2036 at https://www.chicagomarathon.com/about/future-event-dates/.