In short
The Western States 2027 lottery: entries from November 1 to November 21, 2026, draw on December 5, 2026 (estimated dates). You need a finished qualifying race, and each year you apply without being drawn puts more tickets in the hat.
The key facts
| What you book | A spot in the lottery for a bib |
|---|---|
| Lottery entry period | from November 1, 2026 to November 21, 2026 |
| Opening time | It doesn't matter: it's a lottery. Applying on the first or the last day gives the same chances. |
| Lottery results | December 5, 2026 |
| Race day | Saturday, June 26, 2027 ✓ date confirmed Start time not announced yet. |
| Your odds in the lottery | 2% on average (2026 edition) 11,328 applicants for 254 lottery places. A record number of applicants. Each year you are not drawn doubles your tickets.Source: MassUltra. Rate = places ÷ applicants, our calculation. to be checked |
| Price | $575 plus online fees, if you are drawn (2027 edition)Price taken from the source, with its year. |
| How reliable these dates are | Confirmed by the organizer |
Requirements
- Have finished a qualifying race (100 km or more) within the cutoff, during the qualifying year
Step by step
- Finish a qualifying race Within the time limit, between 3 November 2025 and 8 November 2026 (list on wser.org).
- Enter the lottery from November 1, 2026 to 21 November On portal.wser.org. You must be 18 on race day.
- Follow the draw on 5 December From 8 to 11 am California time, in Auburn, streamed live.
- Pay within 10 days if drawn $575 plus fees on UltraSignup, otherwise the spot goes to the next person.
Not drawn? Requalify and enter again next year: your tickets only double if you apply every year.
How the tickets work
Every applicant has tickets in the draw. The official rule is 2 to the power (n − 1), n being the number of years applied: 1, then 2, then 4… Skipping a year does not lose your tickets, it just adds none. A bib won through an aid station, a sponsor, a raffle or a Golden Ticket earns no tickets that year.
| Application no. | Tickets |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 8 |
| 5 | 16 |
| 6 | 32 |
| 7 | 64 |
Rule from the official 2027 lottery page (wser.org), checked October 2026.
- Golden Tickets: which races award them and how many, check the official website. Official website
Don't miss an opening
Add every opening on this page to your calendar: your phone reminds you 1 week before and the day before each one.
Frequently asked questions
How many tickets do you have on your 3rd application?
4 tickets, under the official 2 to the power (n − 1) rule. Skipping a year does not lose them.
Do you need a qualifying race?
Have finished a qualifying race (100 km or more) within the cutoff, during the qualifying year.