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Sep 05 When Is the Next Major Marathon? Sep 04 Boston Marathon 2027 Registration Opens September 14 Sep 04 Sydney Marathon 2026 Results: Gobena and Jepchirchir Win Sep 03 How to Track a Runner at the New York City Marathon Aug 18 How to Track a Runner at the Chicago Marathon Aug 18 How to Track a Runner at the Berlin Marathon Aug 17 How Many Runners Are in the London Marathon? Aug 16 How Many Runners Are in the Tokyo Marathon? Aug 16 How Many Runners Are in the Boston Marathon? Aug 16 How Many Runners Are in the New York City Marathon?
[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Sep 05

When Is the Next Major Marathon?

The next Abbott World Marathon Major is the BMW Berlin Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, September 27, 2026. It is followed by the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11, 2026, and the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

These three events make up the autumn cluster of the Majors calendar. All three have already closed their entry lotteries, meaning only registered runners, charity participants, and tour package holders will be taking to the start line.

When are the autumn Major marathons running?

The three upcoming races run within a five-week window. The schedule for the autumn 2026 events is:

  • BMW Berlin Marathon: Sunday, September 27, 2026. This race is famous for being the fastest course in the world, starting and finishing near the historic Brandenburg Gate.
  • Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Sunday, October 11, 2026. Chicago is another incredibly flat, fast course that winds through 29 of the city's diverse neighborhoods.
  • TCS New York City Marathon: Sunday, November 1, 2026. New York is the largest marathon in the world, taking runners through all five boroughs from Staten Island to Central Park.

To see full elevation profiles, weather conditions, and logistics for these races, you can explore the dedicated guides for Berlin, Chicago, and New York.

What are the Abbott World Marathon Majors dates for 2027?

Once the 2026 autumn cluster is complete, the calendar shifts to the 2027 race cycle. Five Majors have officially confirmed their 2027 race days:

  • Tokyo Marathon: Sunday, March 7, 2027. Tokyo is the opening Major of the calendar year.
  • Boston Marathon: Monday, April 19, 2027. Boston is held on Patriots' Day and remains the oldest continuously contested marathon.
  • TCS London Marathon: Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25, 2027. To accommodate a record 1.33 million ballot applicants, London is running a historic two-day "Double" format to host 100,000 runners.
  • Sanlam Cape Town Marathon: Sunday, May 23, 2027. Cape Town formally joins the series in 2027, making history as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major and the first in Africa.
  • TCS Sydney Marathon: Sunday, August 29, 2027. Sydney joins the series as the seventh Major, taking runners across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Check individual countdowns and schedules on the Tokyo, Boston, London, Cape Town, and Sydney pages.

Which Major entry windows are opening soon?

While registration for the upcoming 2026 autumn races has long been closed, several entry windows for the 2027 races open this month:

  • Boston Marathon qualifying window: Opens Monday, September 14, 2026, and closes Friday, September 18, 2026. Runners must submit certified qualifying times to register.
  • TCS Sydney Marathon ballot window: Opens Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and closes Monday, October 19, 2026. Sydney offers a published acceptance rate of roughly 32.5%, making it the friendliest general ballot in the Majors.

If you are planning to enter any of the upcoming lotteries, the free Marathon Ballot alerts provide a warning three days before a window opens and a reminder the day it closes, ensuring you never miss a deadline.

Sources: Abbott World Marathon Majors, Boston Athletic Association, TCS Sydney Marathon, TCS London Marathon, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

Sources Abbott World Marathon Majors All upcoming race dates and schedules sourced from the Abbott World Marathon Majors and individual race organizer sites as of September 2026.