Boston Marathon registration opens Monday: will your time make the cut?

If you are hoping to run Boston in 2026, registration for the 130th edition kicks off on Monday, Sept. 8, and will be open for five days. Runners from around the world who have met their respective Boston qualifying time can submit applications for 2026. But remember: qualifying is just the first step in the process.

During the registration period last year, the 2025 Boston Marathon saw a 10 per cent increase in applications, with more than 36,000 runners applying. Of those, only 24,069 were accepted, and athletes needed to be six minutes and 51 seconds faster than their qualifying standard to secure a spot. With the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) increasing the standards by five minutes last year, will your time be fast enough?

This year, with runners pursuing the same number of spots under the faster standards, the competition is bound to be tougher. With marathon running booming worldwide, organizers expect around 35,000 applications. Although the exact cut-off time won’t be announced until all applications are processed once registration closes, one website has analyzed BQ times from marathons across North America to offer a prediction.

According to Running with the Rock, the calculations predict that the cut-off time for 2026 will land just under six minutes (5:37). For those accepted, the entry fee is US$260 (C$360), and payment is only processed once you are officially in.

Previous Boston Marathon cut-off times and applicants (2019-2025)

How does Boston Marathon qualifying work?

Registration for the Boston Marathon isn’t first-come, first-served. The B.A.A. uses a rolling system that favours the fastest runners. So, while achieving a qualifying time is required, only the speediest in each age and gender group will be granted entry. And that’s just the start. The 30,000 spots aren’t all up for grabs—many are reserved for elite and invited athletes, charity runners and sponsors, leaving around 24,000 spots for qualifiers. This means thousands of hopefuls, who rightfully achieved the standards, could be on the sidelines.

The qualifying window for the 2026 Boston Marathon opened in September 2024 and will officially close on Sept. 12, 2025. The application process is hosted via the B.A.A.’s online platform, Athletes’ Village, and registration will prioritize the fastest qualifiers among each age and gender group for acceptance.

Applications will be processed over two to three weeks following the Sept. 12 deadline, with runners likely finding out whether they secured a spot by the end of the month. The 2026 Boston Marathon is scheduled for Monday, April 20 (Patriots Day in Massachusetts).