The Boston Marathon: Qualifying, Course Guide & Race Coverage

You must run a certified marathon within the qualifying window and finish under the Boston Qualifying (BQ) time for your age and gender. For example, men aged 18–34 need a 3:00:00, while women in the same bracket need a 3:30:00. However, meeting the BQ standard doesn’t guarantee entry — in recent years, runners have needed to beat their BQ by 5+ minutes due to high demand. Check our complete qualifying times guide for all age groups.

The 130th Boston Marathon takes place on Monday, April 21, 2026. The race starts in waves beginning at 10:00 AM ET from Hopkinton, MA. The elite women’s start is at 9:30 AM and the wheelchair/handcycle divisions begin at 9:00 AM.

The Boston Marathon is a point-to-point course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street in downtown Boston. The first half is a net downhill, which can tempt runners into going out too fast. The famous Newton Hills come between miles 16–21, culminating in Heartbreak Hill at mile 20.5. The final 5 miles are mostly downhill into the city. Read our detailed course strategy guide.

Since it’s a point-to-point course, you can’t drive to the start. Most runners take official BAA buses from Boston Common to the Athletes’ Village in Hopkinton. Buses typically depart 2–3 hours before your wave time. Some runners arrange private transportation. Our Start Line Travel Planner has all the details.

April in Boston is unpredictable. Race day temperatures have ranged from the 30s to the 90s (°F) in recent years. The 2018 race saw near-freezing rain, while 2012 hit 89°F. Prepare for anything: check forecasts the week before and have both warm and hot-weather race plans ready.

Popular spectator spots include Wellesley College (the Scream Tunnel at mile 13), the top of Heartbreak Hill (mile 20.5), Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Kenmore Square near Fenway, and of course the finish on Boylston Street. Check our complete spectator guide for tips on getting to each location.