In short
The Marathon Majors are mostly won in a lottery, with sometimes slim odds (~1% in New York in 2026, ~10% in Tokyo). Boston is the exception: you get in with a qualifying time. Then there are charity places and official tour operators.
The dates
| Guide | Window | Results | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Marathon | August 13 to August 27, 2027 estimated | September 17, 2027 | $230 if you live outside Japan, ¥19,800 in Japan, paid only if you are drawn (2027 edition) |
| Boston Marathon | September 13 to September 17, 2027 estimated | September 28, 2027 | $260 for accepted qualifiers (2026 edition) |
| London Marathon | April 23 to April 30, 2027 estimated | July 8, 2027 | free ballot entry, then £275 for international runners who are drawn (2027 edition) |
| Berlin Marathon | October 1 to November 12, 2026 | December 3, 2026 | €215, including 4 days of public transport (2027 edition) |
| Chicago Marathon | October 8 to October 29, 2026 | December 8, 2026 | $260 for non-US residents, plus processing fee (2027 edition) |
| New York City Marathon | February 3 to February 24, 2027 estimated | March 3, 2027 | free drawing entry, then $333.11 for non-members of NYRR, $269.66 for members (2027 edition) |
| Sydney Marathon | September 29 to October 19, 2026 | November 3, 2026 | free lottery, then AUD 340 for selected international runners, mandatory carbon levy included (2027 edition) |
| Cape Town Marathon | June 9 to June 23, 2027 estimated | June 25, 2027 | ballot application R5, bib price not published on the official site (2027 edition, to be checked) |
What our guides say
- Tokyo Marathon: ~10% chance in the lottery. 2026 cycle: 14 to 28 August, results on 18 September, payment by 30 September (race on 7 March 2027).
- Boston Marathon: The fastest get in first: for 2027, you needed to be 5 min 17 s under your qualifying time. 1,000 spots drawn among the other qualifiers. 2026 cycle: September 14 to 18.
- London Marathon: The ballot opens in race week. Record: 1,338,544 applicants for 2027 (race over two days, April 24 and 25, 2027).
- Berlin Marathon: Free lottery, €215 only if you are drawn. A separate group with better chances for runners with a qualifying time.
- Chicago Marathon: Lottery until October 29, 2026 at 2 p.m. (Chicago time). More than 200,000 applicants for 55,000 spots in 2026. Guaranteed entry with a qualifying time, same window.
- New York City Marathon: ~1 % chance in 2026 (more than 240,000 applicants). 2026 cycle: February 4 to 25, drawing on March 4.
- Sydney Marathon: Ballot until October 19, 2026 at 10 a.m. (Sydney time). Only those selected pay. Entering early gives no advantage.
- Cape Town Marathon: A Major since 2027. 2026 cycle (2027 race): ballot from 10 to 24 June 2026, results and payment on 26 June.
7 today, 8 in 2027
Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York are the 7 Marathon Majors today. The Cape Town Marathon becomes the 8th, and the first in Africa, from its 23 May 2027 race (official announcement of 10 June 2026).
The 4 ways to a bib
- The lottery: the main way in almost everywhere.
- A qualifying time: the only standard way in at Boston.
- A charity place: running for a cause and raising money.
- An official tour operator: a package that includes the bib.
Don't miss an opening
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Frequently asked questions
Which Major is hardest to get in the lottery?
Among our guides, New York: a ~1% chance in 2026, with more than 240,000 applicants.
Can you run Boston without a qualifying time?
Yes, through a charity place or an official tour operator; otherwise you need the qualifying time.
See also
Tokyo MarathonOpens August 13, 2027Boston MarathonOpens September 13, 2027London MarathonOpens April 23, 2027Berlin MarathonOpens October 1, 2026Chicago MarathonOpens October 8, 2026New York City MarathonOpens February 3, 2027Lotteries and ballotsEvery dateFixed-date bookingsEvery dateMarathons and halvesBy activityWhen do half marathon entries open?Practical guideWhat are my odds in a race lottery?Practical guideMarathon qualifying times 2027: Boston, New York, LondonPractical guideLottery, quota, fixed date: the 4 ways to get inThe basics
Sources and checks. Dates, prices and requirements come from the calendar's guides, which give the official source and how reliable each one is. Anything not in them yet is flagged “To check”. Page updated on October 27, 2026.