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[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Sep 04

How to Register for Boston Marathon 2027

Qualifier registration for the 2027 Boston Marathon opened today, Monday, September 14, 2026, within the Boston Athletic Association's online platform, Athletes' Village. The race will be run on Monday, April 19, 2027, Patriots' Day in Massachusetts.

Registration is not on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 18, 2026. Submitting your details on Monday morning provides no algorithmic advantage over submitting on Friday afternoon. Every submission received within the window will be verified and ranked based on the net margin an athlete ran under their respective age and gender qualifying standard.

Who is eligible to register for Boston 2027?

Anyone who achieved a currently valid Boston Marathon qualifying time for their respective age and gender can apply during this registration week in Athletes' Village. The qualifying window for the 2027 Boston Marathon began on September 13, 2025.

Key timing and age criteria include:

  • Age Determination: Qualifying times are based upon each athlete's age on the date of the 2027 Boston Marathon (April 19, 2027), not their age on the day they ran their qualifying marathon.
  • Net Timing: Qualifying times are based on official submitted net time (also known as chip time).
  • Age Minimum: The minimum age requirement for the Boston Marathon is 18 years of age on race day.
  • Standard Does Not Guarantee Entry: Due to field size limitations, achieving one's qualifying standard does not guarantee entry into the event, but simply the opportunity to submit a registration application.

If total applications surpass the allotted field size for qualified athletes, those who are the fastest among the pool of applicants in their age and gender group will be accepted. Current standards start at 2:55:00 for men aged 18 to 34 and 3:25:00 for women aged 18 to 34, with full age-band breakdowns available on our Boston Marathon page or through the qualification checker.

Step-by-step registration in Athletes' Village

To complete your submission while the portal is open:

1. Sign in to Athletes' Village: Log in to your personal profile at the official B.A.A. Athletes' Village portal, or register a new user account if you have not used the platform previously. 2. Open the 2027 Qualifier Application: Navigate to your dashboard and select the active registration form for the 131st Boston Marathon. 3. Enter Qualifying Performance Data: Input your exact qualifying marathon event name, race date, and official net chip time. Provide a direct link to the certified race results if prompted. 4. Submit Payment Authorization: Provide credit card details for the entry fee. Credit cards are charged only upon official acceptance following verification. 5. Receive Submission Confirmation: The B.A.A. will email registrants upon the completion of their form. Note that this email confirms receipt of the application, not entry into the race.

Qualifying course criteria

The B.A.A. enforces strict course certification rules to ensure competitive equity. For a marathon performance to be recognized:

  • Only a certified full marathon distance will be accepted for qualifying.
  • Distances shorter than a full marathon will not be accepted.
  • Times from indoor marathons or virtual marathons are not accepted for qualifying purposes.
  • Race courses must be certified by USA Track and Field, Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), or a national governing body for distance running for the country in which the race is held.
  • Events must feature three or more officially entered competitors and be advertised and promoted prior to race day.
  • A transponder timing system must be used as the official timing device.
  • The course must be run outdoors.
  • The B.A.A. does not accept time-trials, handicapped marathons, treadmill marathons or marathons conducted indoors as qualifying events.

Boston Qualifier Selection for missed cutoffs

Recent editions have required athletes to run faster than their base standard to secure a bib. For the 2026 race, the cutoff landed at 4 minutes 34 seconds under standard, leaving 8,887 qualified applicants unaccepted.

For 2027 applicants whose times fall short of the eventual cutoff, the B.A.A. has introduced a secondary pathway: the Boston Qualifier Selection. This is an additional random selection component specifically for applicants whose qualifying time was not faster than the cut-off. Approximately 1,000 qualifiers will be randomly selected for entry, rewarding athletes who achieved a verified BQ without requiring any separate application or extra fee.

Verification and acceptance schedule

Submitting an application is only the first step. Though the B.A.A. will email registrants upon the completion of their form, runners are not officially entered into the race until their qualifying time is verified. The amount of time it takes to verify qualifying times may vary and can be as long as several days, depending on the qualifying marathon.

Once all qualifying performances are audited, the B.A.A. will calculate the final cutoff and issue official acceptance and non-acceptance emails. To ensure you never miss opening warnings or closing reminders for upcoming registration windows across the Majors, sign up for free alerts on our Boston Marathon page.

Sources: Boston Athletic Association: Qualify, BAA: 130th Boston Marathon Qualifiers

Sources Boston Athletic Association Registration dates, application criteria, verification rules, and Boston Qualifier Selection details verified on official B.A.A. website pages (accessed September 14, 2026).