Curated event
Chicago Marathon 2026: race day, the expo, and how downtown changes
The Chicago Marathon runs on Sunday, October 11, 2026, starting and finishing in Grant Park. Downtown streets close from early morning, hotels near the Loop fill months ahead, and the expo at McCormick Place runs the three days before.
- Dates: October 8–11, 2026
- Venue: Grant Park, Chicago
- Organised by: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
- Admission: Registration required
- Checked: September 11, 2026
If you are not running, treat marathon Sunday as a spectating day away from Grant Park: pick a course neighborhood reachable by the CTA, know your runner's pace, and keep dinner plans flexible. If you are running, book the Loop or River North early and plan the expo trip for Thursday or Friday.
Schedule
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Abbott Health & Fitness Expo, McCormick Place North Building, Hall B111:00–18:00 |
| Friday, October 9, 2026 | Expo, day two09:00–18:00 |
| Saturday, October 10, 2026 | Expo, day three09:00–18:00 |
| Sunday, October 11, 2026 | Race day: wheelchair starts 7:20 a.m., professional field 7:30 a.m., waves at 7:35, 8:00 and 8:35 a.m.07:20–16:00The 27th Mile Post-Race Party in Grant Park opens to spectators at 9:30 a.m. |
Dates and hours come from the organisers' announcements and can change. Check them once more before setting out.
Official tickets and registration · Entry is through the organiser; the course itself is free to watch from the neighborhoods.
The event
The Chicago Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors and the single biggest date on the city's autumn calendar. It starts and finishes in Grant Park on Sunday, October 11, 2026, with the professional wheelchair field off at 7:20 a.m., the professional runners at 7:30 a.m., and three waves at 7:35, 8:00 and 8:35 a.m.
The course loops through the Loop, the Near North Side, the West Side and the South Side before returning to Grant Park, which is why the whole city feels it: bridges and arterials close for hours and the CTA becomes the only sensible way to move.
Race day: how downtown changes
Spectators cannot access the start or finish areas in Grant Park. The organiser asks supporters to watch from elsewhere on the course and to meet runners afterward in the designated Grant Park areas; the 27th Mile Post-Race Party opens to spectators at 9:30 a.m.
The practical move is to pick one or two course neighborhoods you can reach on the CTA, work out your runner's planned pace per mile, and arrive with time to spare. Crossing the course on foot mid-race is slow, so plan the day on one side of it.
The expo at McCormick Place
Runners collect bibs at the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo in the North Building of McCormick Place, Level 3, Hall B1: Thursday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
McCormick Place sits south of the Museum Campus, a bus or rideshare hop from the Loop. Thursday is the quietest expo day; Saturday afternoon is the busiest.
Good to know
- Loop, River North and South Loop hotels sell out for marathon weekend well ahead of October; book as soon as your entry or your runner's entry is confirmed.
- Use the CTA rail system on race day rather than a car. Street closures around the course start before dawn and lift in stages through the afternoon.
- October weather off the lake swings from warm to cold within the weekend; pack layers for a long morning outdoors.
Where to stay for marathon weekend
A Loop or River North base keeps the start, the finish and the post-race meeting point walkable and avoids crossing closed streets. These two guides compare the bases and open live stays for your dates.
- Loop vs River North vs West Loop: choosing a Chicago baseThe choice of where to stay, with the walking distances that matter on race morning.
- Where to stay in Chicago on a first visitCompare available stays once the base is chosen.
Compare bookable Chicago activities
Keep the race-day logistics above; compare an architecture cruise or guided city option for the day before or after the marathon.
This is an affiliate link to the third-party GetYourGuide marketplace. If you book after clicking, Chicago Guide may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It is not an official ticket desk, and listings, prices, availability, and terms can change. The editorial guidance above was selected independently of commission.
GetYourGuide marketplace
Explore Chicago activities on GetYourGuide
Compare current architecture cruises, attraction tickets, and guided city tours, availability, and inclusions.
Best for: One guided or ticketed slot after the itinerary is settled.
Third-party GetYourGuide marketplace, not an official ticket desk. Check the operator, meeting point, inclusions, accessibility, and cancellation terms.
See Chicago options on GetYourGuideVia GetYourGuide
Make a day of it
Sources and transparency:Bank of America Chicago Marathon, official site (checked 2026-09-11)Chicago Marathon spectator information (start times, expo, Grant Park access) (checked 2026-09-11)Not a paid listing.Editorial policyFull agenda