Updated Oct. 29, 2026. We update this page when the B.A.A. posts start times, road closures and the 2028 registration plan, and again on race week.
The 131st Boston Marathon is Monday, April 19, 2027, on Patriots’ Day. The race runs 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to the finish on Boylston Street. This page covers the key dates, how qualifying and registration worked for 2027, the qualifying standards, what changed this year, and where to find spectator information.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sept. 13, 2025 | Qualifying window for 2027 opened |
| Sept. 14–18, 2026 | Qualifier registration week (closed; it won’t reopen) |
| Sept. 19, 2026 | Qualifying window for the 2028 race opened |
| Sept. 29, 2026 | Acceptances began, with a 5:17 cutoff |
| Fall 2026 | Official charity programs begin taking applications |
| Mon., April 19, 2027 | Race day |
How hard was it to get in?
Running a qualifying time isn’t enough on its own. When more qualifiers apply than there’s room for, the B.A.A. takes the fastest relative to their age-group standard. For 2027, 33,649 qualifiers applied, and only those who beat their standard by 5 minutes, 17 seconds or more got in on time. That’s 24,630 runners. Another 1,000 were added through a new random draw, and 8,019 were turned away.
By our calculation, the share of qualifier applicants turned away fell from about 34% for the 2025 race to about 27% for 2026 and 24% for 2027. The cutoff still never dropped below four and a half minutes, even after the B.A.A. tightened the standards by five minutes for the 2026 race.
What is the Boston Qualifier Selection?
It’s new for 2027. After filling the field by time, the B.A.A. randomly picked 1,000 more applicants from qualifiers who missed the 5:17 cutoff.
2027 qualifying standards
| Age group | Men | Women and non-binary |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35-39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65-69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
Quick explainer: New for 2027: times from courses with at least 1,500 feet of net downhill get 5 minutes added (10 minutes for 3,000 feet or more). Courses with 6,000 or more feet of drop don’t count.
Other ways in
The rest of the 30,000-runner field is made up of invited entrants, including official charity runners, pros and Para athletes. Charity teams set their own fundraising minimums and start taking applications in the fall. Ask the charity directly.
Watching the race
The course passes through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and Boston. The 2027 start times and road closures hadn’t been posted as of Oct. 29. Our Boston Marathon 2027 spectator guide covers viewing spots, transit and last year’s schedule. April 19 is also a Boston Public Schools holiday, and spring recess follows. See our BPS calendar.
Related coverage
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Boston Marathon?
Monday, April 19, 2027, Patriots’ Day. It’s the 131st running.
What was the 2027 Boston Marathon cutoff time?
5 minutes, 17 seconds under your age-group qualifying standard.
Can I still register for the 2027 Boston Marathon?
Not as a qualifier. Registration closed Sept. 18, 2026, and won’t reopen. Charity programs are the main remaining route.
What is the Boston qualifying time for men 18-34?
2:55:00. For women and non-binary runners 18-34, it’s 3:25:00.
What is the net-downhill index?
A time penalty added to qualifying times from steep downhill courses: 5 minutes for 1,500 to 2,999 feet of net drop, and 10 minutes for 3,000 to 5,999 feet.
Sources
- B.A.A.: Record field of qualifiers accepted into the 131st Boston Marathon (Sept. 29, 2026)
- B.A.A.: Qualify
Additional sources
- B.A.A.: 130th Boston Marathon qualifier acceptances
- B.A.A.: 129th Boston Marathon qualifier acceptances
Featured image: Photo: Governor’s Press Office, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.