Chicago Marathon 2026: a guide to following runners

The 2026 Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 11, starting and finishing in Grant Park. To follow a participant, the safest plan combines three resources: check the official course map, use the race app for individual tracking, and agree on a meeting place in advance. Spectators will not be allowed into the start and finish areas inside the park, but they can watch along the course and enter designated areas of Grant Park after the race.

Because schedules, access rules, street closures and the map itself may change, check the official spectator page before leaving.

Date, starts and access to Grant Park

The official schedule lists the first starts in Grant Park from 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2026, Chicago local time (CT): professional men’s wheelchair at 7:20, professional women’s wheelchair at 7:21, handcycles at 7:23, and professional men and women at 7:30. The general waves are scheduled for 7:35, 8:00 and 8:35 a.m. The organizers expressly state that these times are subject to change.

Grant Park opens to runners at 5:30 a.m., but spectator access begins at 9:30 a.m. Family and friends cannot escort athletes to the start or wait for them immediately at the finish. Those internal areas are reserved for participants displaying official bib numbers, credentialed staff and ticketed guests where applicable.

The suggested meeting point is the Runner Reunite area beside the 27th Mile Post-Race Party, which opens to spectators at 9:30 a.m. Agree on a letter or another landmark in advance and keep a backup plan in case mobile networks are congested. The published schedule says the party ends at 4:00 p.m., also subject to change.

Official course and viewing-point planning

The official course is a loop starting and finishing in Grant Park and passing through 29 neighborhoods. The organizers describe it as flat and fast, but warn that the map is subject to change. Do not plan around old maps or undated images shared online.

To decide where to wait, ask the runner for their starting wave and planned pace per mile. This can help estimate their arrival at different sections, although it cannot guarantee an exact time. Timing checkpoints are placed at the start, every 5K, halfway, at Miles 20 through 25, Mile 25.2 and the finish. Those records help spectators interpret progress shown by the tracker.

Choose a small number of points with straightforward connections. Repeatedly crossing the route may be impractical: the race uses the street from curb to curb, extensive closures will be in effect, and no-parking restrictions along the course begin early.

Where to cheer without obstructing the race

The organizers list official cheering areas at 8K, Mile 13 on N. Wacker, the halfway point, Mile 15 and Mile 26 near Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road. The Charity Block Party is near Mile 15 at Adams Street and Loomis Street, close to Whitney Young High School.

These locations provide clear reference points but may attract large crowds. An intermediate stretch shown on the official map could offer easier viewing if it can be reached and left without crossing the course. Spectators must remain off the race route, may not decorate the road surface, and should remove signs, packaging and other waste when leaving.

The organizers also ask spectators not to offer food or drinks because participants may not accept them from the public. Wheeled devices—including bicycles, skateboards and strollers—are prohibited on the course except for registered and authorized race categories.

How to track a runner

The designated tool is the free Bank of America Chicago Marathon App, Powered by TCS, available through links on the official spectator page. Find the participant in the app before race day and confirm how their name appears in the registration. Save their bib number as well if the runner has shared it directly.

Treat the tracker as an estimate rather than a real-time location. Checkpoint times may appear at intervals, while course clocks show elapsed time for each wave, not necessarily the personal time of someone who crossed the start later. The organizers also note that personal watches and phones may show a distance different from the officially measured course.

Do not rely on the screen alone: set a post-race meeting place and an alternative. If a participant finishes after 3:30 p.m., official guidance directs spectators to the area immediately west of the finish, entered from 11th Street and Michigan Avenue, rather than the 27th Mile party.

Public transportation and moving around the city

The organizers recommend the CTA rail system for moving among accessible locations along the course. However, the published spectator information does not provide a complete list of lines, stations, fares or service changes for every viewing point. Do not assume the regular schedule will operate unchanged.

Build an itinerary only after selecting points on the map, then check current information from the CTA and race organizers on the day. Allow extra time for walking, access controls and detours. Taxis and ride-hailing vehicles will also be affected by closures, so an address that looks nearby may require a different approach.

How to follow from home

The spectator page announces local English- and Spanish-language coverage on NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago and TeleXitos from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. CT, with streaming from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT through the websites, apps and connected-TV channels identified by the organizers. Radio coverage on 670 The Score is scheduled from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m.

These details concern the channels and times published for Chicago; digital availability may vary by territory. Before the race, confirm access, schedules and any changes on the official Marathon website.