After two years of runners having to only meet the BQ standard to be accepted into the Boston Marathon, qualifying for Boston 2024 and 2025 became more difficult once again. In order to qualify for the 2024 race, runners needed to run 5:29 faster than the qualifying time to be accepted and 6:51 for the 2025 race. With the Boston Athletic Association tightening qualifying times by 5 minutes, it will likely take even faster times to qualify for the 2026 Boston Marathon.
No matter what BQ time is necessary to be accepted for 2026, runners will need to find fast, quality races which give them the best chance to qualify for Boston. We’ve helped runners out by compiling the best races to qualify for Boston in each state as well as the 50 Best Marathons to Qualify for Boston. These races will give you a great chance to earn your 2026 BQ. And if the Boston Marathon is not your goal, the races on our list are all quality, well-organized, PR-worthy marathons.
| State | Race |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Rocket City Marathon |
| Alaska | Humpys Marathon |
| Arizona | Mesa Marathon |
| Arkansas | White River Marathon |
| California | Revel Big Bear Marathon |
| Colorado | Colorado Marathon |
| Connecticut | Hartford Marathon |
| Delaware | Rehoboth Beach Marathon |
| Florida | Jacksonville Marathon |
| Georgia | Combos Marathon |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon |
| Idaho | Pocatello Marathon |
| Illinois | Chicago Marathon |
| Indiana | Indianapolis Monumental Marathon |
| Iowa | Des Moines Marathon |
| Kansas | Salina Crossroads Marathon |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Marathon |
| Maine | Sugarloaf Marathon |
| Maryland | B&A Marathon |
| Massachusetts | Baystate Marathon |
| Michigan | Bayshore Marathon |
| Minnesota | Grandma's Marathon |
| Mississippi | Mississippi River Marathon |
| Missouri | Greater St. Louis Marathon |
| State | Race |
|---|---|
| Montana | Governor's Cup Marathon |
| Nebraska | Lincoln Marathon |
| Nevada | Revel Mt. Charleston Marathon |
| New Hampshire | Revel White Mountains Marathon |
| New Jersey | Jersey City Marathon |
| New Mexico | State 47 Las Cruces Marathon |
| New York | Wineglass Marathon |
| North Carolina | Tobacco Road Marathon |
| North Dakota | Fargo Marathon |
| Ohio | Glass City Marathon |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon |
| Oregon | Eugene Marathon |
| Pennsylvania | Erie Marathon |
| Rhode Island | Newport Rhode Races Marathon |
| South Carolina | Kiawah Island Marathon |
| South Dakota | Sundance to Spearfish Marathon |
| Tennessee | Chattanooga Marathon |
| Texas | Houston Marathon |
| Utah | Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon |
| Vermont | Vermont City Marathon |
| Virginia | Newport News One City Marathon |
| Washington | Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon |
| Washington, D.C. | Potomac River Run Marathon |
| West Virginia | Marshall University Marathon |
| Wisconsin | Whistlestop Marathon |
| Wyoming | Casper Marathon |
