Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, April 20, 2026. As of January 1, 2026, there are exactly 107 days remaining until the starting gun fires in Hopkinton. The race is traditionally held on this specific Monday every year to coincide with Patriots' Day, a significant holiday in the New England region.

Yes, the race is held on Patriots' Day, which is a public holiday in Massachusetts and Maine. While federal offices and the stock market remain open, state and local government offices, schools, and many local businesses are closed. This allows hundreds of thousands of spectators to line the 26.2-mile course to cheer on the runners, creating a festive, state-wide celebration of athletic endurance and historical remembrance.

Established in 1897, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon. It was inspired by the revival of the marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics. By holding the race on Patriots' Day, the event links the ancient Greek ideal of liberty with the American Revolutionary War, specifically commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord that began in 1775. Over the decades, it has evolved from a small race of 18 men to a world-class event that pioneered the inclusion of women and wheelchair divisions.

The race follows a point-to-point course starting in rural Hopkinton and finishing on Boylston Street in the heart of Boston. Key viewing areas include the 'Scream Tunnel' at Wellesley College, where students create a wall of sound at the halfway point, and the infamous 'Heartbreak Hill' in Newton at mile 20. The finish line near the Boston Public Library is the most iconic spot, but it requires arriving very early due to heavy crowds and security checkpoints.

To participate, most runners must meet strict time standards based on their age and gender at a certified marathon. For the 2026 race, the qualification window typically runs from September 2024 through September 2025, with registration occurring in mid-September 2025. Because the race is so popular, achieving the qualifying time does not guarantee entry; the fastest applicants within each division are accepted until the field limit of approximately 30,000 is reached. Alternatively, runners can gain entry by raising money for official B.A.A. charities.

Boston Marathon Monday is full of unique traditions. Many fans attend an early 11:00 a.m. Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, which is timed so that fans spill out of the stadium just as the lead runners enter the final miles of the course. Spectators often hand out orange slices and water to runners, while the 'One Boston Day' theme promotes acts of kindness and resilience in honor of those affected by the 2013 bombing. The city essentially transforms into a massive, 26-mile-long block party.

The event begins early in the morning, starting with the Military March at 6:00 a.m. The competitive wheelchair divisions start around 9:02 a.m., followed by the Handcycle and Duo participants. The professional men's field typically starts at 9:37 a.m., with the professional women following at 9:45 a.m. The general mass of runners, known as the 'waves,' begins a rolling start at 10:00 a.m., ensuring a steady stream of participants through the finish line until late in the afternoon.

Visitors should rely exclusively on public transportation, specifically the MBTA (the 'T'), as many roads throughout the city and surrounding towns are closed to vehicle traffic. Expect the trains to be extremely crowded and plan for delays. The weather in April can be unpredictable, ranging from 40°F to 60°F, so dressing in layers is essential. Finally, if you plan on dining in the North End or Back Bay after the race, make reservations well in advance, as the city’s restaurants are packed with hungry runners and their families.