World Marathon Majors Registration Dates
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 | 12/12/2024 |
| 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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