Boston Marathon 2027 Qualifying Times and Entry Numbers

The 2027 Boston Marathon will feature a record 25,630 accepted qualifiers. This new high comes despite a more stringent qualifying standard that required runners to beat their age-group time by at least 5 minutes and 17 seconds.

A total of 33,649 athletes applied during registration week in September 2026. The Boston Athletic Association accepted 25,630 of them, surpassing the 24,362 accepted for the 2026 race. This left 8,019 applicants without a place. The overall field size for the race remains capped at 30,000 official entrants.

Qualifying Standard Changes

Runners needed a qualifying time at least 5:17 faster than their age group's standard to enter the 2027 Boston Marathon. This cutoff is 43 seconds longer, or slower, than the 4:34 cutoff used for the 2026 race. The slower standard meant 9,019 applicants fell short of qualifying this cycle, compared to 8,887 who were turned away last year.

Expanded Entry Pathways

A new selection pathway introduced in July helped boost the number of accepted qualifiers. It provided 1,000 additional entries through a random draw from applicants who met the Boston Qualifying (BQ) standard but missed the 5:17 cutoff. Entry fees are charged only once a place is confirmed, with no second registration window for these qualifiers.

The goal was to increase the number of qualified athletes in the race. Qualifiers will now make up about 85 percent of the 30,000-runner field. The remaining 4,370 places are reserved for charity runners, invited professionals, and Para athletes.

Field Composition and Demographics

The qualified field is composed of 13,898 men, 10,641 women, and 91 non-binary athletes. They represent 120 countries and residents of all 50 U.S. States, plus Washington, D.C. And U.S. Territories. Approximately 10,745 of these qualifiers, close to 44 percent, will be running the Boston Marathon for the first time. The youngest qualifier is 18 years old and the oldest is 84.

Jack Fleming, the B.A.A.'s president and CEO, stated that earning a spot requires dedication and resiliency as the number of global marathoners continues to grow.

Additional Entry Categories

Beyond the standard qualifiers, 215 athletes met the Para Athletics Division qualifying standards. Another 849 athletes were accepted for completing at least 10 consecutive Boston Marathons or by qualifying through the B.A.A. Running Club.

The most popular qualifying races for the 2027 field were:

Only 240 accepted qualifying times came from courses steep enough to trigger the B.A.A.'s new net-downhill adjustments, which apply to races that drop more than 1,500 feet. Registration information for the 132nd Boston Marathon will be announced after the 131st race concludes.