Chicago Marathon 2027

 

Dates marked ~ are projected from the last confirmed cycle. Always verify on the official race website.

The race

Course: A loop through 29 neighbourhoods, starting and finishing in Grant Park.

Elevation: 243 ft (74 m) up and essentially the same back down. The only real climb is "Mount Roosevelt", a roughly 25 ft bridge inside the final half-mile.

Typical weather: Median start around 52°F (11°C), typically rising 15–20°F over the course of the race.

Official site: chicagomarathon.com

Your odds

Around 20–25%, the most favorable lottery odds of any Major, though demand has grown significantly (200,000+ applicants for 2026).

How to enter

6 ways in

1. Non-guaranteed drawingOpen to anyone. The main route in, and the best lottery odds of any Major. ~Oct 21, 2026
2. Abbott WMM Race DrawRequires you to have completed 3+ Majors. 2027 draw not announced
3. Time qualifierGuaranteed entry on a qualifying time, same window as the drawing. With the drawing
4. Legacy finisherGuaranteed entry after 5+ Chicago Marathons in the last 10 years. With the drawing
5. Chicago Distance SeriesComplete the Shamrock Shuffle, Chicago 13.1 and the marathon in one year. Rolling
6. Charity entryGuaranteed place in exchange for a fundraising commitment. Varies

Non-guaranteed drawing

Anyone can enter: no qualifying time and no prior races required. Chicago has not announced its 2027 window. Projecting from the 2026 cycle, which closed November 18 and drew December 11, expect applications around late October 2026 with results in mid-December. Acceptance runs roughly 20 to 25%, the most favourable odds of any Major lottery.

Abbott WMM Race Draw

Chicago takes part in the Abbott WMM Race Draws, which put 250 guaranteed places into the 2026 edition. The 2027 draw has not been announced. Abbott opens all its draws together in early January, so expect applications to open then with the Chicago draw made in spring.

Time qualifier

Chicago guarantees entry to runners who have run a qualifying time for their age group, applied for during the same registration window as the drawing. If you hold a qualifying time there is no reason to enter the drawing instead.

Legacy finisher

Finish five or more Chicago Marathons within the previous ten years and you hold guaranteed entry. It is the reward for runners who keep coming back, and it removes the drawing from the equation permanently as long as you stay current.

Chicago Distance Series

Completing all three Chicago Distance Series races in a single year earns guaranteed entry to a future marathon. It is a commitment across a calendar year rather than a single application, but it is guaranteed rather than drawn.

Charity entry

Chicago's official charity partners hold guaranteed entries, each with its own fundraising minimum and deadline. Given Chicago's relatively good lottery odds, this is more often a backup than a first choice.

Common questions