Published by FindMyMarathon.com
September 23, 2025
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has officially announced the qualifying cut-off time for the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, which will take place on Monday, April 20, 2026.
Runners hoping to secure a coveted bib for the 2026 race needed to run at least 4 minutes, 34 seconds faster than their age- and gender-based qualifying standard to gain acceptance.
This cut-off is less than in 2025, when qualifiers needed to be 6 minutes, 51 seconds under their standard. However, for the 2026 Boston, the B.A.A. tightened qualifying standards for runners aged 18-59 by 5 minutes. While the cut-off margin was smaller this year, thousands of qualified runners were still unable to make the field.
Below are comparison tables that break down acceptance totals and how much faster qualifiers were than the standard.
| Year | Cut-Off Time (Under Standard) | Applicants Accepted | Applicants Not Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4:34 | 24,362 | 8,887 |
| 2025 | 6:51 * | 24,069 | 12,324 |
| Year | 20:00+ Faster | 10:00–19:59 | Cut-off–9:59 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5,397 (22%) | 8,961 (37%) | 10,004 (41%) |
| 2025 | 6,971 (29%) | 11,199 (47%) | 5,873 (24%) |
These numbers show that in 2026, more than 40% of qualifiers landed just inside the acceptance window, compared to only 24% in 2025.
Another factor influencing this year’s cut-off was the total number of qualifying performances run in the United States.
That’s a 10% decrease in U.S.-based qualifying times, easing competition slightly for 2026.
As always, a handful of races produced the largest number of qualifiers. The top five most common races that got runners to Boston in 2026 were:
Each year at FindMyMarathon.com, we run a contest asking runners to predict the Boston Marathon qualifying cut-off. For the 2026 race, the community average guess was 4:33—just one second off the official cut-off of 4:34.
We had three entrants correctly predict the cut-off time of 4:34 and win prizes. In addition, eight entrants were only one second off and 56 were within ten seconds of the actual cut-off.
This year’s razor-close predictions highlight just how well the FindMyMarathon.com running community understands the delicate balance between field size, number of qualifiers, and the ever-changing competition to earn a Boston bib.
The 130th Boston Marathon will feature 30,000 runners from across the globe, including more than 24,000 time qualifiers. With demand remaining high and qualifying standards becoming increasingly competitive, aspiring qualifiers for the 131st Boston Marathon will need to continue planning carefully and choosing their qualifying races strategically.
For detailed course profiles, pacing strategies, and the best races to qualify for Boston, use our comprehensive calendars and tools.
