calendar icon Nov 17, 2024

World Marathon Majors Registration Dates

World Marathon Majors: Tokyo Marathon | Boston Marathon | London Marathon | Sydney Marathon | Berlin Marathon | Chicago Marathon | New York City Marathon

Each of the six World Marathon Majors accepts different types of registrants, by different methods, mostly by lottery / ballot / raffle, with its own start dates and deadlines, the process sometimes complicated, other times simple, as shown below. Learn more about AbbottWMM.

If you want to receive notification for registration and lottery openings for these marathons in the future, among other members-only benefits, register for free as a member.


Tokyo Marathon (Tokyo,Japan) - Mar 2, 2025

Unique Features: Most entries by lottery. Payment is not automatic upon acceptance of registration; there is a separate period to pay for registration.

Age: 19 and older | Course cutoff time: 7 hours

Type of Registrant Lottery Opens Lottery Ends Acceptance Notification
Lottery Entry
i) Run As One Semi-Elite Athletes Entry
(Overseas athletes confirmed as semi-elite by the Japan Amateur Athletic Federation;
if there are more qualified applicants than slots, entries not accepted will automatically transfer to General Lottery Entry for further possible selection)
8/1/2024 8/15/2024 9/2/2024
ii) One Tokyo Premium Member Entry
(Japanese citizens and Tokyo residents who pay annual fees)
8/1/2024 8/15/2024 9/2/2024
iii) General Entry 8/16/2024 8/30/2024 9/20/2024
Charity Entry
Runners who donate minimum amount specified by the charity organization and promote charity activities while participating in the event; selection made by charity organization. 6/25/2024 7/10/2024 7/16/24 - 7/19/24

by charity organization
More info: www.marathon.tokyo/en/news/detail/news_003067.html
Offical Travel Operators
International Runners Via Official Tours
(managed by Kintetsu International (KNT), the official travel agency)
    by tour
operator
More info: www.marathon.tokyo/en/participants/service



Boston Marathon (Boston, MA, USA) - Apr 21, 2025

Unique Features: No lottery; acceptance is mostly by age/gender group qualifying times.

Age: 18 and older | Course cutoff time: 6 hours

Type of Registrant Opens Ends Acceptance Notification
Qualifiers Entry
Acceptance by age/gender group qualifying times; if the number of slots available is less than those who registered, a faster cutoff time for each age/gender group will be adopted. 9/9/2024 9/13/2024 9/24/2024
See: Qualifying Times
Charity Entry
Runners who fundraise a minimum of $5,000 for one of the event's official charities; qualifying times are waived. 10/17/2024
when official event charities are announched
until filled (always sold out)
by charity organization
by charity organization
More info: www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/charity-program
Official Travel Operators
International Runners Via Recognized Tour Operators     by tour
operator
More info: www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/plan/international-tour-program



London Marathon (London, United Kingdom) - Apr 27, 2025

Unique Features: Offers Virtual Marathon and has a ballot/lottery as well as age/gender group qualifying times entries, the latter for UK residents only.

Age: 18 and older | Course cutoff time: 8 hours

Type of Registrant Opens Ends Acceptance Notification
Lottery Entry
i) General Ballot Entry

ii) Second Ballot Entry
(UK Residents who donate entry fee to the London Marathon Foundation)
4/20/2024 4/26/2024 6/26/2024
More info: www.tcslondonmarathon.com/enter/how-to-enter/ballot-entry
Guaranteed Entry
i) Good for Age Entry
(for UK Residents only, by age/gender group qualifying times)
10/8/24 10/31/24 TBA
More info: www.tcslondonmarathon.com/enter/how-to-enter/good-for-age-entry
ii) British Athletics Club Entry
(through British Athletics affiliated running clubs)
TBA, when guaranteed slots are allocated and ballot results are known for those clubs with no guaranteed slots by running club by running club
More info: www.tcslondonmarathon.com/enter/how-to-enter/british-athletics-club-entry
Charity Entry
Runners who fundraise a minimum amount set by the charity organization. Mid May 2024
when charity allocations are confirmed
  by charity organization
More info: https://www.tcslondonmarathon.com/enter/how-to-enter/charity-entry
Official Travel Operators
International runners via approved tour operators     by tour
operator
More info: www.tcslondonmarathon.com/enter/how-to-enter/international-entry/international-tour-operators



Sydney Marathon (Sydney, Australia) - Aug 31, 2025

Age: 18 and older | Course cutoff time: 7 hours

Type of Registrant Opens Ends Acceptance Notification
General Ballot Entry
Allocation of race entries by lottery draw TBA
(early December)
Guaranteed Entry
Candidacy Club Ballot
(completed Sydney Marathon either in 2022, 2023 and/or 2024 secures a spot in either 2025, 2026, or 2027 without having to enter the general ballot; no transfers, refunds, or deferrals; maximum of one entry per individual;
may choose a first and second preference; if demand exceeds capacity for the chosen year, entry will be entered into a ballot for selection; if unsuccessful with first choice, automatically rolled over to the second preference)
11/6/2024
email notification of what to do next
More info: https://www.tcssydneymarathon.com/2025-information
Official Tour Operators
International runners via official tour operators     by tour
operator
More info: https://www.tcssydneymarathon.com/international-entry



Berlin Marathon (Berlin, Germany) - Sep 21, 2025

Age: 18 and older | Course cutoff time: 6 hours 15 minutes

Type of Registrant Opens Ends Acceptance Notification
Lottery Entry
Allocation of race entries by lottery draw 10/7/2024 11/21/2024 TBA (early December 2024)
More info: www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/your-registration/lottery
Charity Entry
Runners who fundraise a minimum of fundraising target by the charity organization.     by charity organization
More info: www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/your-registration/charity
Official Travel Operators
International runners via Tour Operators United for Runners (TOURS)     by tour
operator
More info: www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/your-registration/tour-operators



Chicago Marathon ( Chicago, IL,USA) - Oct 12, 2025

Unique Features: Has both a lottery and age/gender group qualifying times entries.

Age: 16 and older (below 18 with parental consent) | Course cutoff time: 6 hours 30 minutes

Type of Registrant Opens Ends Acceptance Notification
Lottery Entry
Entries through lottery draw 10/22/2024 11/21/2024 12/7/2023
Guaranteed Entry
(automatically switched to lottery if not approved)
i) Time Qualifier
(by age/gender group qualifying times)
10/22/2024 11/21/2024  
ii) Legacy Finisher
(Chicago Marathon finisher for 5 or more times the last 10 years)
10/22/2024 11/21/2024  
iii) Chicago Distance Series Entry
(finishers of these 2023 events: Shamrock Shuffle, Chicago 13.1 and Chicago Marathon)
10/22/2024 11/21/2024  
iv) American Development Program Entry
(by gender/masters group qualifying times)
10/22/2024 11/21/2024  
Charity Entry
Runners who fundraise a minimum of $1,250 if within 10/22/2024-11/21/2024 or $1,750 after that period, for an official charity organization which may have its own higher minimum target.     by charity
organization
Official Travel Operators
Runners via official international tour group TBA 8/10/2025 by tour
operator
More info: www.chicagomarathon.com/apply



New York City Marathon (New York City, NY, USA) - Nov 3, 2024

Note: the following refer to the 2024 (past) race; 2025 registration options will be shown here once announced by the race.

Unique Features: Offers guaranteed entries to 2023 Virtual NYC Marathon runners and has a lottery as well as age/gender group qualifying times entries.

Age: 18 and older | Official End Time: 8:00pm

Type of Registrant Opens Ends Acceptance Notification
Lottery Entry
i) NYC Metro Area Applicants
(residents in and within 60 miles of NYC)

ii) National Applicants
(U.S. residents outside of the NYC metro area, including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories)

iii) International Applicants
(non-U.S. residents)
2/28/2024 3/21/2024 3/28/2024
More info: www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/runners/the-drawing
Guaranteed Entry
i) 9+1 Program
(active members of the New York Road Runners (NYRR) by 12/31/23 who completed nine qualifying NYRR races and volunteered at one qualifying event)
2/21/2024 3/21/2024  
More info: www.nyrr.org/run/guaranteed-entry/tcs-new-york-city-marathon-9plus1-program#2024-guaranteed-entry
ii) Completed 15-Plus
(runners who completed 15 or more NYC Marathons)
2/21/2024 3/21/2024  
More info: www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/results/streakers
iii) Time-Qualifying Runners
(achieved at the Marathon or Half Marathon distances in calendar year 2023)
2/21/2024 3/21/2024  
More info: www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/runners/marathon-time-qualifiers
iv) NYRR Members at the $5000+ annual membership level      
More info: www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/runners/entry/2024
Charity Entry
i) NYRR Team for Kids
(fundraisers for this charity, with a minumum of $3,000)
11/5/23 Until filled
(spots are limited)
 
More info: www.runwithtfk.org
ii) Runners for the Official Charity Partners 3/28/24
(when official charity partner list is announced)
Until filled
(spots are limited)
by charity organization
More info: www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/runners/charities
Official Travel Operators
Rnners who are not full-time residents of the U.S. via the official International Tour Operators (ITO)     by tour
operator
More info: www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon/runners/international-tour-operators


If you want to receive notification for registration and lottery openings for these marathons in the future, among other members-only benefits, register for free as a member.


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