Entry & Registration

Real odds: With 120,000+ applicants and roughly 50,000 total spots, the actual lottery pool is smaller than it looks. Subtract the 20,000+ guaranteed entries (time qualifiers, legacy runners, charity), and standard applicants are likely looking at 30-35% odds, not the near-fifty-percent figure that circulated in earlier years. The post-pandemic running boom has made this significantly more competitive.

Who It Is For: runners with a recent verifiable qualifying time on a certified course after Jan 1, 2024 (2-year lookback window).

2026 qualifying standards (based on your age on October 11, 2026):

Who It Is For: runners who have finished Chicago five or more times in the last ten years.

Only Chicago finishes count. DNS or DNF does not count toward the five.

Note: if you were registered for the cancelled 2020 race, that year may count toward your legacy tally. Confirm with the official site.

The local loophole. Complete all three 2026 Bank of America Chicago Distance Series events, Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Chicago 13.1, and the 2026 Marathon, and you are guaranteed entry the following year. For Chicago-area runners, this is widely considered the most reliable way to avoid lottery stress entirely. It requires committing to three races across the spring and fall, but you skip the December anxiety completely.

Find Distance Series races and local tune-ups on the Chicago races calendar.

Who It Is For: anyone willing to fundraise for an official partner.

Timing matters. Fundraising minimums are tiered based on when you sign up:

• Before lottery results (October to December 11): minimums are typically around $1,750.
• After lottery results: minimums jump to $2,500 or higher, and popular teams may already be full.

If you are serious about charity entry, do not wait for lottery results to start looking. Pick a team during the application window.

Featured Charity Partners

Four solid Chicago options with strong runner support:

How to apply for charity entry:

1. Browse the official charity index during the application window.
2. Apply directly with your chosen team using the links above.
3. Once accepted by the charity, complete marathon registration.
4. Start fundraising and training.

For international runners, tour operators are often the only reliable guaranteed path in late in the cycle. Options like Marathon Tours and 2:09 Events bundle entry with hotel and travel logistics. Packages typically run $1,500-$3,000+.

One consistent piece of advice from international runners: book a free cancellation hotel as early as possible, even before you know if you have a bib. Chicago hotel prices during marathon weekend spike significantly, and the exchange rate adds another layer of cost. Booking refundable gives you flexibility without locking in at a premium.

Marriott Bonvoy Moments: Bid Bonvoy points for packages that include entry and hotel nights. Availability varies by year.

Deferral is officially a cancellation with a guaranteed spot the following year, not a postponement. Here is what that actually means:

• You lose your entry fee. The $250-$260 is non-refundable regardless of reason.
• Cancellation deadline for the 2026 event is Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
• After cancelling, you will receive a separate email in late October or early November with a link to claim your guaranteed 2027 spot. This window is short, if you miss that email, the guaranteed entry is gone.
• You pay the full registration fee again the following year.

The Allianz insurance alternative: if you purchased refundable registration insurance at checkout and have a qualifying reason (injury, illness, family emergency), filing an insurance claim may return your entry fee in cash. For runners with a doctor's note, this is often a cleaner outcome than the official deferral process.