Runners can register for the 2026 Boston Marathon between 8-12 September 2025. We’ve got all the information you need to know before registering, including the Boston Marathon qualifying times for 2026, how much it costs to enter the Boston Marathon, and what to do if you haven’t run a Boston qualifying time.
The 2026 Boston Marathon will take place on Monday 20 April 2026.
Registration opens at 10am ET on Monday 8 September 2025 and applications are accepted until 5pm ET on Friday 12 September.
The 2026 Boston Marathon qualifying window is September 1 2024 to 5pm ET on Friday 12 September (the 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying window will begin on Saturday 13 September).
Running a Boston qualifying time does not guarantee you entry into the race.
The B.A.A. advise that results will be announced in early October (but in previous years they have been announced in late September).
The entry fee into the 2026 Boston Marathon is $260. Fees will only be processed when entries are accepted.
How to register? Register via the Boston Athletic Association’s (B.A.A.) Athletes’ Village online platform.
WHAT ARE THE BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFYING TIMES FOR 2026?
Below are the Boston Marathon qualifying times for the 2026 and the 2027 race. Running these times does not guarantee you entry into the Boston Marathon. Here’s a few more details to know about running a Boston qualifying time (BQ).
Qualifying times are based on your age on the day of the race, not the age when you ran the time.
Qualifying times are based on chip times and must be run in a certified marathon (no shorter races, virtual or indoor races are accepted). The B.A.A. accept qualifying times from USATF, World Athletics/AIMS and foreign equivalent certified courses.
You must submit proof of your result from the race organiser’s official results. You cannot submit a strava file or equivalent.
The minimum age requirement to run the Boston Marathon is 18 years old on race day.
If there are more applicants than race bibs available, then it’s fastest-first within each age and gender category.
Runners are not officially entered until their time is verified and their place is confirmed by the B.A.A.
WHEN WILL RUNNERS KNOW IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN BOSTON MARATHON REGISTRATION?
The B.A.A. say that runners will likely get confirmation of their registration in early October 2025.
If your application is accepted then your credit card will be charged the non-refundable, non-transferable and non-deferrable entry fee at the time of acceptance.
DOES RUNNING A BQ GUARANTEE ENTRY INTO THE BOSTON MARATHON?
No. Running a Boston Qualifier time does not guarantee you entry into the race.
For 2025’s race, one-third of applicants with a BQ – over 12,000 people – were not successful when registering. The cut-off time in 2025 was 6:51 faster than the BQ time needed (so someone needing to run 3:00:00 actually had to run 2:53:09).
The B.A.A. updated Boston qualifying times between the races in 2025 and 2026 (FYI: they got faster), but history suggests that runners will still need to be at least two minutes quicker than their BQ time.
WHAT IS REGISTRATION PROTECTION FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON?
All runners can add Registration Protection to their entry into the Boston Marathon for an additional fee. This policy protects against runners being able to take part in the race for numerous reasons including illness, injury, severe weather or vehicle breakdown meaning you cannot get to the race, and other reasons. See the official site for full details. If you wish to claim for this then you will need to submit full proof in order to get a refund.
CAN YOU DEFER BOSTON MARATHON ENTRY?
The only allowable way to defer Boston Marathon entry is if you are pregnant or postpartum. Full details of the B.A.A.’s pregnancy and postpartum policy is here.
CAN YOU QUALIFY FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON BY RUNNING A NET DOWNHILL RACE?
Yes, you can qualify for the Boston Marathon by running a net downhill race but as of the 2027 race, there is a new downhill index applied to races with more than 1,500ft (457m) of net downhill.
HOW MANY PEOPLE RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON?
The field size for the Boston Marathon is 30,000 people. Around 24,000 runners are accepted via time qualifications. The rest get their place as elites, sponsored athletes and via charity places and sports tours.
I DON’T HAVE A BQ. HOW CAN I RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON?
Around 6,000 runners take part in the Boston Marathon by a means other than achieving a BQ and applying via the standard registration.
You can run the Boston Marathon for charity. You apply directly to your charity of choice and the average fundraising requirement is $15,000 (more on this below).
You can run the Boston Marathon via international sports tour companies. Here are the recognised travel tour operators.
Abbott World Marathon Majors has a Road To The Majors programme for runners looking to complete all the Majors. For Boston you can apply if already have at least four stars (and haven’t yet run Boston). There are 150 places available this way. More details can be found here.
There are also spaces reserved for elite athletes, sponsors and media.
For all runners, the standard cut-off time applies. The cut-off time is 5:30pm, or six hours after the final runners cross the start line.
HOW DO YOU APPLY FOR A CHARITY PLACE FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON?
There are thousands of bibs available for the Boston Marathon for charity runners. To apply for a charity place visit charityteams.com and find the charity you wish to run for and then apply directly with them. The average fundraising requirement is $15,000, but each charity varies.
Charity applications for the 2026 Boston Marathon open on Monday 29 September 2025.
CAN YOU RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON FOR CHARITY IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A BIB?
Yes, you can! The BYOB – Bring Your Own Bib – option is available for runners who already have a place in the race. Find your charity via charityteams.com, apply directly with them and select the “Registered runner – I have a bib” option.
FAQ ON BOSTON MARATHON REGISTRATION
Do you need to be fast to run the Boston Marathon?To achieve a Boston qualifying time you need to be a quicker runner within your age category. But there are also places in the race for runners who apply via a charity or sports tour group. You do not need to be a quicker runner to take part via those routes, but the standard race cut-off time of 5.30pm applies to all runners (that requires a six-hour finish time).
Is the Boston Marathon a hard race?The Boston Marathon is a hilly race, though it is an overall net downhill course. The Newton Hills are four notorious hills over five miles (16-21 miles), culminating in Heartbreak Hill which is a challenging hill for how it comes after mile 20 – but this is a city road marathon, not a mountain race! Just make sure you prepare well and train to run hills on tired legs. Here’s a guide on how to train for the Boston Marathon.
How much does it cost to enter the Boston Marathon?The entry fee for the 2026 Boston Marathon is $260 USD.
Can international runners register for the Boston Marathon?Yes. Anyone with a BQ time can register for the Boston Marathon. If successful you are subject to standard entry requirements into the US.
AUTHOR BIO
Mark ran the 2024 Boston Marathon and will be registering for the 2026 Boston Marathon.
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Lead image from B.A.A.
