Registration Opens Today for 2026 Boston Marathon

Registration is officially open for the 130th Boston Marathon, presented by Bank of America.

Starting today, September 8, qualified runners can submit their applications to run the 2026 edition of the world’s oldest annual marathon, which is scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026—Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts.

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) will accept applications through 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 12. As in recent years, registration is not first-come, first-served. All applications submitted during the five-day window will be reviewed after the close of registration.

To be eligible, runners must have achieved a qualifying time during the window that opened September 1, 2024, and closes at the end of registration week. Entry is limited to those who meet the marathon qualifying standards for their age and gender, although, in typical Boston fashion, qualifying doesn’t guarantee acceptance.

The B.A.A. expects to host a field of 30,000 runners, and final selections will be based on how much faster an athlete ran compared to the minimum standard. Historically, this cutoff has varied: in 2019, applicants needed to beat their standard by 4 minutes and 52 seconds to gain entry; in 2021, the cutoff soared to 7 minutes and 47 seconds due to pandemic-related field size limits.

Runners can apply through the B.A.A.’s online platform, Athletes’ Village. The $260 entry fee for U.S. athletes will only be charged once an athlete is officially accepted. Applicants also have the option to purchase registration insurance during the process.

This week’s registration window also marks the end of the qualifying period for 2026, and, almost immediately, the start of the next one. The B.A.A. confirmed that the qualifying window for the 131st Boston Marathon will open on Saturday, September 13, with the same time standards in place.

However, a new policy will be in effect: marathon results from courses with a net downhill greater than 1,500 feet (457.2 meters) will no longer count as Boston qualifiers. That update, announced in June, was introduced to ensure fairness across qualifying races, as downhill courses can give runners a significant time advantage.

The Boston Marathon remains one of the most coveted start lines in distance running. As part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, alongside Tokyo, London, Berlin, Sydney, Chicago, and New York City, the race has maintained its reputation for prestige, difficulty, and history. The 2024 edition brought more than $500 million in economic impact to the Boston area, according to the B.A.A.

For runners who’ve already earned their BQ, this week is a long-awaited moment. For others, the chase starts again on Saturday.

For full details and to apply, visit baa.org.