For many runners, earning a place at one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors is the ultimate bucket-list achievement. These seven races, Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City, attract hundreds of thousands of hopefuls every year, yet only a fraction make it to the start line.
Each event has its own quirks: some rely on qualifying times, others on enormous global ballots, and several hold back thousands of spots for charity runners or travel-package entrants. Knowing when and how to apply can make the difference between getting a bib and sitting out another year.
Here’s your complete, detailed guide to every way you can enter each Major in 2026, with deadlines, qualifying standards, and tips for improving your odds.
Tokyo Marathon
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026
Number of Runners: Around 39,000
Tokyo opens the marathon major calendar, but it’s the hardest to access, particularly for international runners. Over 300,000 applicants compete for fewer than 40,000 bibs.
Entry Routes
- Ballot/Lottery: Applications opened from mid-August (August 15 – August 29, 2025) and have now closed. You register on the Tokyo Marathon Foundation website and pay a small processing fee. Successful entrants were notified in early October and had about two weeks to pay the ¥18,200 (≈ $230 USD) entry fee. The odds are roughly 1 in 10.
- Time Qualifier (Run As One Semi-Elite): To apply, submit proof of a qualifying time achieved after January 1 of the previous year on an AIMS-certified course. Applications open in July and close in late August. Only 25 men and 25 women from overseas are accepted on a fastest-first basis.
- Charity: The Tokyo Marathon Charity program opens one week before the general ballot. You pledge a donation to one of 30+ partner charities (minimum ¥200,000, around $1,300 USD). If accepted, you confirm your entry by paying the donation and race fee. Charity entries typically close by mid-August once all 5,000 spots are filled.
- Tour Operators: The most reliable path for non-Japanese runners. Packages open in June and include guaranteed entry, hotel options, and transfers. Prices range from $2,000–$3,500 USD, depending on length and inclusions.
Qualifying Times
| Category | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-Elite (Domestic) | Sub 2:28 | Sub 2:54 |
| Semi-Elite (Overseas) | Fastest 25 entries | Fastest 25 entries |
Tip
If Tokyo is your missing star, focus first on charity or tour operator entries, as these open early and sell out fast.
Boston Marathon
Date: April 20, 2026
Number of Runners: Around 30,000
Boston is the oldest annual marathon in the world and the only Major that doesn’t have a general lottery. Entry is primarily based on the famous Boston Qualifier (BQ).
Entry Routes
- Time Qualifier: The 2026 registration window ran September 9–13, 2025. You apply through the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) website with proof of a certified marathon result achieved after September 1, 2023. Entry costs $260 USD, and applicants are accepted fastest-first. For 2026, runners needed to be 4:34 faster than their age-group standard to get in.
- Charity: Applications open in late September. You apply directly through one of the 150+ official BAA charity partners, pledging to raise at least $5,000 USD. Most charities ask for an upfront deposit once accepted.
- Tour Operators: Boston-approved international partners offer guaranteed entries starting around May. Packages include race entry, accommodation, and local transfers.
- Invitational Entries: A small number of bibs are held for sponsors, media, and legacy runners.
Qualifying Times
| Age Group | Men | Women/Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 2:55 | 3:25 |
| 35–39 | 3:00 | 3:30 |
| 40–44 | 3:05 | 3:35 |
| 45–49 | 3:15 | 3:45 |
| 50–54 | 3:20 | 3:50 |
| 55–59 | 3:30 | 4:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50 | 4:20 |
| 65–69 | 4:05 | 4:35 |
| 70–74 | 4:20 | 4:50 |
| 75–79 | 4:35 | 5:05 |
| 80+ | 4:50 | 5:20 |
Tip
Plan your qualifying race early, and aim to run five minutes faster than your standard to clear the cutoff comfortably.
London Marathon
Date: April 26, 2026
Number of Runners: 55,000+
London is the world’s most famous charity marathon, with more than one million people applying for fewer than 20,000 general-entry bibs in 2026.
Entry Routes
- Ballot/Lottery: Opens for one week in late April right after race weekend. It’s free to enter, and you only pay if you’re selected. Results arrive in July, and successful entrants pay £79.99 (UK) or £225 (international).
- Good For Age (GFA): Applications open October 1–14 for UK residents only. You’ll need proof of a qualifying time from an eligible race between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025. Only 3,000 men and 3,000 women are accepted on a fastest-first basis.
- Championship Entry: For elite club runners (sub-2:38 men, sub-3:10 women). Applications open alongside GFA in October and require UK Athletics membership.
- Charity: The largest route into London. Charity applications open in May, with minimum fundraising commitments typically between £2,000–£3,000.
- Tour Operators: For overseas runners, packages with guaranteed entry and hotel options go live around May each year.
GFA Qualifying Times
| Age Group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18–39 | 2:52 | 3:38 |
| 40–44 | 2:57 | 3:43 |
| 45–49 | 3:02 | 3:46 |
| 50–54 | 3:07 | 3:53 |
| 55–59 | 3:12 | 3:58 |
| 60–64 | 3:34 | 4:23 |
| 65–69 | 3:52 | 4:53 |
| 70–74 | 4:52 | 5:53 |
| 75–79 | 5:07 | 6:13 |
| 80+ | 5:27 | 6:38 |
Tip
Apply through multiple routes, ballot, charity, or tour operator, to improve your chances.
Sydney Marathon
Date: September 2026
Number of Runners: Around 35,000
Sydney is the newest Major, added in 2025, and it’s already attracting huge global interest.
Entry Routes
- Ballot: Opens September 1 and runs for three weeks. You register online and are notified in October if selected. Entry fees are $280 AUD (Australia/NZ) and $330 AUD (international).
- Time Qualifier: Submit your proof of time from an AIMS-certified marathon after July 1, 2024. Qualifiers are ranked fastest-first and notified by late October.
- Charity: Charity applications open from October to December, with fundraising goals around A$3,500–A$4,000 (£2,000+).
- Tour Operators: International packages go live May–June, often bundled with sightseeing or travel options.
Qualifying Times
| Age Group | Men | Women/Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 2:53 | 3:13 |
| 35–39 | 2:55 | 3:15 |
| 40–44 | 2:58 | 3:26 |
| 45–49 | 3:05 | 3:38 |
| 50–54 | 3:14 | 3:51 |
| 55–59 | 3:23 | 4:10 |
| 60–64 | 3:34 | 4:27 |
| 65–69 | 3:45 | 4:50 |
| 70–74 | 4:10 | 5:30 |
| 75–79 | 4:30 | 6:00 |
| 80+ | 4:55 | 6:35 |
Tip
With its new Major status, Sydney’s ballot is still easier to get into than other Majors, making 2026 a prime opportunity.
Berlin Marathon
Date: Late September 2026
Number of Runners: 50,000
Berlin is renowned for its flat course and world-record potential.
Entry Routes
- Ballot: Opens October 1–31. You create an SCC Events account and pay a €125 deposit. Results are announced in December, and successful entrants pay the remaining €80 by January.
- Fast Runners Entry: Guaranteed entry for those meeting the “fast runners” standards below. Submit your proof during the ballot window and receive confirmation in November.
- Charity: Charity allocations are published in December, with fundraising commitments from £1,250+.
- Tour Operators: Official international packages open in November, offering guaranteed bibs and hotels.
Qualifying Times
| Age Group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18–44 | 2:45 | 3:10 |
| 45–59 | 2:55 | 3:30 |
| 60+ | 3:25 | 4:20 |
Tip
Berlin offers one of the few guaranteed time-qualifier paths in the Majors.
Chicago Marathon
Date: Early October 2026
Number of Runners: 55,000
Chicago is fast, flat, and famous for its welcoming atmosphere. It’s also one of the easiest Majors to enter if you’re a time qualifier.
Entry Routes
- Lottery: Opens mid-October and closes mid-November. Winners are announced in December, and successful applicants must pay $250 USD (U.S.) or $260 USD (international).
- Time Qualifier: Guaranteed entry for anyone meeting the published standards, using results from a certified marathon within the past three years.
- Charity: Opens October 1, with over 10,000 places available. Minimum fundraising starts at $1,250 USD, and spaces remain open until around March.
- Tour Operators: Packages open May–June with guaranteed bibs.
- Legacy: Runners with five Chicago finishes since 2015 receive automatic entry if they apply before the general deadline.
Qualifying Times
| Age Group | Men | Women/Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|
| 16–34 | 2:50 | 3:20 |
| 35–39 | 2:55 | 3:25 |
| 40–44 | 3:00 | 3:30 |
| 45–49 | 3:10 | 3:40 |
| 50–54 | 3:15 | 3:50 |
| 55–59 | 3:25 | 3:55 |
| 60–64 | 3:40 | 4:15 |
| 65–69 | 3:55 | 4:30 |
| 70–74 | 4:15 | 4:45 |
| 75–79 | 4:30 | 5:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50 | 5:20 |
Tip
If you can run a qualifying time, Chicago guarantees you a bib, making it one of the most accessible Majors.
New York City Marathon
Date: November 2026
Number of Runners: Around 60,000
The TCS New York City Marathon is the world’s largest road race, winding through all five boroughs.
Entry Routes
- Lottery: Opens in February and runs for three weeks. You create a My NYRR account, pay a refundable $11 USD fee, and await the March draw. International success rates are just 2–3%.
- Time Qualifier: Guaranteed entry for those meeting NYRR’s strict standards at official NYRR races during the qualifying window (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2025). Upload results by February 15.
- 9 + 1 Program: NYRR members who complete nine races and volunteer once earn guaranteed entry. Registration opens January 15.
- Charity: Applications open March 1, with fundraising minimums from $3,000–$5,000 USD.
- Tour Operators: Packages open April, offering guaranteed bibs and hotels.
- Legacy: Runners with 15+ NYC finishes get lifetime guaranteed entry.
Qualifying Times
| Age Group | Men | Women/Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 2:53 (1:21 half) | 3:13 (1:32 half) |
| 35–39 | 2:55 (1:23) | 3:15 (1:34) |
| 40–44 | 2:58 (1:25) | 3:26 (1:37) |
| 45–49 | 3:05 (1:28) | 3:38 (1:42) |
| 50–54 | 3:15 (1:32) | 3:51 (1:49) |
| 55–59 | 3:23 (1:36) | 4:10 (1:54) |
| 60–64 | 3:34 (1:41) | 4:27 (2:02) |
| 65–69 | 3:45 (1:46) | 4:50 (2:12) |
| 70–74 | 4:10 (1:57) | 5:30 (2:27) |
| 75–79 | 4:30 (2:07) | 6:00 (2:40) |
| 80+ | 4:55 (2:15) | 6:35 (2:50) |
Tip
For international runners, the most reliable routes are tour operator or charity entry, both of which sell out quickly.
Which Marathon Major Is the Easiest to Enter?
For fast runners, Berlin and Chicago offer the most straightforward guaranteed paths. For those entering by ballot, Sydney currently provides the best odds, while Tokyo and London remain the toughest. Charity places are consistently the most dependable option for first-timers.
Final Thoughts
Getting into a World Marathon Major takes planning, patience, and persistence. Each has its own process, deadlines, and nuances, and it pays to think a full year ahead. Whether you’re chasing a Boston Qualifier, a London charity bib, or your final star in Tokyo, start early, apply widely, and keep proof of your qualifying time or fundraising ready.
For 2026, competition will be tighter than ever, but the reward is worth it: joining a global community of runners who’ve turned ambition into achievement, one 26.2-mile stretch at a time.
For Tokyo entry, one can also participate in their Run as One virtual race series. They are different from the ones organized by WMM, are held every few months, and cost 1,500 JPY (~$10) to enter. They are pretty crowded and you have ~2% chance of winning, but for the price it’s worth a shot (and that’s how I got in to 2025 race).