How to get into the Chicago Marathon
- 2027 lotteryOct 8 to Oct 29, 2026
- 2027 guaranteed entryOct 8 to Oct 29, 2026
- ResultsDec 8, 2026
- Race dayOct 10, 2027
- 2028 lotteryOct 2027, expected
- ResultsDec 2027, expected
Every way into the Chicago Marathon
| Route | Who it's for | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lottery | Anyone 16 or older on race day, one application each | Oct 8 to 29, 2026. Results Dec 8, pay by Dec 15 | Free to apply. $250 in the US, $260 outside the US, if picked |
| Time qualifier | A certified marathon under your age standard, run Jan 1, 2025 to Oct 29, 2026 | Same window. Approved runners paid by Nov 10, 2026 | $250 / $260 |
| Legacy | Five or more Chicago finishes in the last 10 years, 2016 or later | Same window. Approved runners paid by Nov 10, 2026 | $250 / $260 |
| High Performance Program | Men under 2:25, women and non-binary under 2:45. Masters 40+: 2:35 and 2:50 | Closed for 2027 at its 300 places | $250 / $260 |
| Chicago Distance Series | Finishers of the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Chicago 13.1 and the marathon in one year | All three in 2027 guarantees the 2028 race, the 50th running | Each race's fee, then the 2028 entry fee |
| Charity | Anyone who commits to raise at least $2,500 for one of 200+ partner charities | Until Sep 10, 2027, or until the charity is full | $325 US, $335 outside the US, plus the $2,500 minimum |
| Tour operator | Runners who book with an operator in the official Tour Operator Program | Dec 8, 2026 to Aug 10, 2027 | Hotel package plus entry: from $1,210 a person for 3 nights in 2026, entry $640 extra (Marathon Tours & Travel) |
| Cancelled 2026 entry | Runners who cancelled a 2026 entry by Oct 7, 2026, or under the pregnancy policy | Claimed in the 2027 application window | 2027 fee paid again. Pregnancy cancellations pay nothing new |
Chicago Marathon lottery results
The 2027 drawing closed at 2 p.m. CT on October 29, 2026. Results go out by email on December 8, and everyone picked has until 11:59 p.m. CT on December 15 to pay. Applying is free, earlier applications have no advantage, and duplicate applications are removed before the draw.
The number of drawing places depends on how many guaranteed runners register first. More than 200,000 people applied for the 2026 race, up from an event-record 160,000 for 2025. The 2026 field was about 55,000. The organizers have not published the 2027 total. The 2025 and 2026 totals were announced on drawing day.
Applications can be withdrawn until 5 p.m. CT on December 1, 2026. Runners not picked can still enter through a charity or, from December 8, through an official tour operator.
Chicago Marathon guaranteed entry
Time qualifiers need a certified marathon under their age standard, run between January 1, 2025 and October 29, 2026. Age counts on race day, October 10, 2027. Half marathons, 50Ks and virtual races do not count, and the organizers make no exceptions. Verification takes up to 10 business days, and approved runners had to pay by November 10, 2026.
Legacy runners have five or more Chicago finishes in the last 10 years. Finishes before 2016 do not count, 2020 registrants count as 2020 finishers, and the 2020 Virtual Experience does not count.
The High Performance Program takes men under 2:25 and women and non-binary runners under 2:45, or 2:35 and 2:50 for masters 40 and over, from a marathon run since January 1, 2025. Its 300 places for 2027 are full.
| Age | Men | Women and 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 |
Chicago Distance Series and the 50th running
Runners who finish the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, the Chicago 13.1 half marathon and the Chicago Marathon in one calendar year get a series medal and guaranteed entry to the next marathon. Only the 8K at the Shamrock Shuffle counts.
Finishing all three in 2027 guarantees the 2028 race, the 50th running. The 2027 dates are March 21 for the Shamrock Shuffle, June 6 for Chicago 13.1 and October 10 for the marathon, so the 2027 marathon place has to come from another route first.
Chicago Marathon charity entry
Charity places are first come, first served until September 10, 2027, or until a charity's places run out. You choose one of more than 200 partners in the Charity Index, apply to that charity, commit to raising at least $2,500, and pay a $325 entry fee ($335 outside the US). Some charities set a higher target. The minimum was $2,200 for 2026.
Partners include Advocate Health Care, the American Red Cross, Chicago Parks Foundation (Team ChiParks) and Ronald McDonald House. GivenGain is the preferred fundraising platform.
Charity runners raised a record $47.1 million in 2025, and about a third of the 2026 field ran for a charity. Charity entries cannot be cancelled into the 2028 race.
Chicago Marathon tour operators
Only operators in the official Tour Operator Program can sell guaranteed entries. The race's Tour Operator Index listed 116 international partners for 2026, plus Marathon Tours & Travel in the US, and shows only those with places left. Not every country has one. You book with the operator, not the race. Tour places go on sale December 8, 2026 and the tour application stays open to August 10, 2027. Operators sell only to residents of their own region: Marathon Tours & Travel's UK and Australian offices and Sports Tours International (UK) cannot sell to US residents, and Travelling Fit's packages are not open to them.
A bib comes only with a hotel package. Marathon Tours & Travel's US package has 3 nights with hotel taxes, a welcome reception, a Saturday shakeout run, a pre-race pasta dinner, an escorted walk to the start and a post-race celebration. Entry is extra, entry only is not allowed, and every guest in its room block must buy the package. Its Prestige package at The Blackstone adds a private airport transfer and the Skyline Hospitality tent on race day. Sports Tours International (UK) adds a guided expo trip and a House of Blues after-party. Flights and airport transfers are not included.
Marathon Tours & Travel takes a 30% deposit and the balance by July 7, 2027, and every payment, the deposit included, is non-refundable and cannot move to another person or year. Travelling Fit's 2026 deposit was A$1,780 per runner, and Adventure Time Travel takes a A$1,000 preliminary deposit per runner for 2027. 2027 prices were not published yet, so the figures below are 2026 rates. Tour entries cannot be cancelled into 2028.
| Operator | Country | Package from |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon Tours & Travel | US | $1,210 for 3 nights, entry $640 extra |
| Marathon Tours & Travel, Prestige | US | $2,970 for 3 nights, entry $640 extra |
| I Run the Globe USA | US | $1,909 per runner for 3 nights, $636 entry included |
| Destiny2Sport, Fitness International Travel | US | Not published |
| Marathon Tours & Travel | UK | £799 for 3 nights, entry £495 extra |
| Sports Tours International | UK | Package not published, entry £479 |
| 2:09 Events | UK | Not published |
| Contact Amérique, Dream Travel Canada, I Run the Globe Canada | Canada | Not published |
| Marathon Tours & Travel | Australia | A$3,205 per runner for 3 nights, entry included |
| Travelling Fit | Australia | A$3,918 for 3 or 4 nights, entry included |
| Adventure Time Travel, RunFun Travel | Australia | Not published |
Cancelling, refunds and event cancellation
Entry fees are non-refundable, and selling or transferring an entry can lead to disqualification and a ban. Refundable registration, bought at sign-up for about 10 to 15% of the cart, returns the full fee for covered reasons.
A 2027 runner can cancel through October 1, 2027 and claim guaranteed entry for 2028, paying the 2028 fee in the 2028 window. A cancellation cannot be undone, and charity and tour entries are excluded. Under the pregnancy and postpartum policy the fee carries to a later race and nothing more is owed.
If the organizers cancel the race, runners get part of the fee back or a discounted 2028 entry, depending on when it happens.
| Cancelled | Refund | Or 2028 entry discount |
|---|---|---|
| By Mar 31, 2027 | 40% | 50% |
| Apr 1 to Jun 30, 2027 | 20% | 30% |
| Jul 1 to Sep 30, 2027 | 5% | 10% |
Chicago entry at a glance
Chicago Marathon entry questions
When are the Chicago Marathon lottery results?
December 8, 2026, by email. Runners who are picked pay by 11:59 p.m. CT on December 15.
How much does the Chicago Marathon cost?
$250 for US residents and $260 for everyone else in 2027, plus processing. Charity entries are $325 or $335 plus at least $2,500 raised. Tour packages with Marathon Tours & Travel started at $1,210 a person in 2026, plus $640 entry.
What time do I need for guaranteed entry?
It depends on age. Men 16 to 34 need 2:50 and women and non-binary runners 3:20, from a certified marathon run between January 1, 2025 and October 29, 2026.
Can I still get into the 2027 Chicago Marathon?
Yes, through a partner charity until September 10, 2027, or through an official tour operator from December 8, 2026 to August 10, 2027.
Can I defer my Chicago Marathon entry?
Not the fee. Cancel by October 1, 2027 and you get guaranteed entry for 2028, but you pay the 2028 fee. Charity and tour entries cannot do this.
How many people apply for the Chicago Marathon?
More than 200,000 applied for the 2026 race, up from 160,000 for 2025. The 2027 total is not published.
How do I get guaranteed entry to the 50th Chicago Marathon?
Finish the Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Chicago 13.1 and the Chicago Marathon in 2027. That guarantees the 2028 race.
When does the 2028 application open?
The organizers have not said. The 2027 window ran October 8 to 29, 2026, so expect early October 2027.
More bucket list races
Dates come from the race's official site. An expected date follows last year's timing until the race announces it.