Chicago Marathon Lottery: Results Arrive Thursday!

Excitement is building for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as lottery results are set to be announced via email this Thursday. Over 200,000 hopefuls are awaiting notification of their acceptance into the race, which includes guaranteed entry groups. Emails will be distributed throughout the day, with early morning Central Time commencements.

For those who do not secure a spot through the lottery, opportunities remain via charity and tour operator entries, though availability is diminishing rapidly. Running for a cause presents a meaningful way to participate, with a minimum fundraising requirement of $2,200 for charity participants.

The marathon continues to demonstrate significant charitable impact, with the 2025 event raising a record-breaking $47.1 million. This impressive sum surpasses the previous year's record by $11 million, contributing to a total of over $405 million raised since 2002. Organizers anticipate continued growth, with a third of the 55,000 expected runners participating for charitable organizations.