Hotels near Chicago Marathon

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon runs on Sunday 11 October 2026, the 48th running, and it is one of the World Marathon Majors. Over 200,000 people applied for the 2026 race, a record, with around 53,000 expected to finish. The course starts and finishes in Grant Park and loops through 29 neighbourhoods, and it is flat enough that the men's world record was set here in 2023. The official race site publishes the course map and spectator guidance.

Spectating costs nothing and the neighbourhood sections are better than the finish. Boystown around mile 8 is the loudest stretch on the course by common agreement, Pilsen around mile 20 has mariachi bands, and Chinatown near mile 21 runs lion dancers. The race is done by mid-afternoon. Expect widespread road closures and rerouted buses from dawn, and the packet expo runs at McCormick Place across the preceding days.

Pro Tip: Pick one neighbourhood stretch and stay there rather than chasing a runner across the city. The Red Line runs parallel to much of the northern course, but crossing the route on foot is nearly impossible once the field is through, and the crowds at Grant Park are ten deep.