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[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Jul 25

How to Get Into the Chicago Marathon

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon fills most of its roughly 55,000-person field through a lottery, and the odds run about 25%, the best among the legacy five Majors that publish a rate. More than 200,000 people applied for the 2026 race, a new event record. Three routes skip the lottery entirely: a qualifying time, a charity fundraising minimum, or a guaranteed spot through an official tour operator.

What are the odds of getting into the Chicago Marathon lottery?

Around 25%, ahead of London's roughly 1.3%, Tokyo's roughly 10%, and Boston's qualifying-only model, though behind Sydney's roughly 32.5% among Majors that publish a rate. Chicago Event Management does not release a single official acceptance percentage; the estimate comes from the roughly 55,000-place field against the record 200,000-plus applicants for 2026. The 2026 lottery results page has the full application count and dates.

How do I skip the lottery with a qualifying time?

A verified marathon finish of 3:05:00 for men or 3:35:00 for women, run on a certified course on or after January 1, 2024, guarantees entry as a time qualifier, with slower standards at each older age band. Chicago's flat, fast loop through 29 neighborhoods is itself a popular course for chasing that standard. Runners can check where a recent finish lands with the qualification checker.

Can I guarantee entry through charity?

Yes. Chicago's official charity partners guarantee a bib for a fundraising minimum starting around $1,750, on top of the standard entry fee. Applicants pick a partner charity, fundraise through that charity's own portal, and receive a registration code once accepted, bypassing the lottery altogether.

What about tour operators?

Authorized international tour operators sell guaranteed Chicago entries bundled with travel packages, at a price the operator sets rather than Chicago Event Management. It costs more than the lottery route but does not depend on a draw, a qualifying time, or a fundraising target.

Is there a guaranteed entry for repeat finishers?

Yes. Runners who have completed the Chicago Marathon five or more times within the last 10 years qualify for guaranteed entry as legacy finishers, without re-entering the lottery each year.

When does the next Chicago Marathon lottery open?

The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon runs October 11, 2026, and its lottery has already closed. The next lottery, for the 2027 race, has not yet been announced on the official site as of this writing. Based on the pattern of recent cycles, expect it to open in late October, shortly before the 2026 race, and run into mid-November, with notifications in December. Chicago Marathon alerts send a reminder as soon as the official window is confirmed.

Which Chicago Marathon entry route should I use?

A runner who already holds a 3:05 (men) or 3:35 (women) marathon time should register through the time qualifier route the moment it opens, since it does not depend on luck. Runners without that time and without an appetite for fundraising are left with the lottery's roughly 25% odds, the best among the legacy five. Anyone who wants a guaranteed bib regardless of pace can weigh a charity commitment against a tour operator package. The Marathon Ballot Simulator models how those odds compound across repeat lottery years, and Chicago Marathon alerts cover the open and close of the next window.

Sources: Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Apply, Chicago Marathon: Frequently Asked Application Questions, Running USA: Bank of America Chicago Marathon record release

Sources Chicago Event Management / Bank of America Chicago Marathon Time qualifier standards from chicagomarathon.com/runners/frequently-asked-application-questions/ (accessed July 25, 2026); 2026 lottery figures (200,000+ applications, 21 October 2025 to 18 November 2025 window, 11 December 2025 notifications) from the Chicago Event Management release via runningusa.org and this site's own Chicago ballot history page, which cites the same sources.