The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is already one of the crown jewels of global distance running. But in 2027, the stakes are getting even higher.
USA Track & Field (USATF) has announced that the 2027 USATF Marathon Championships will take place right on the streets of the Windy City, running in tandem with the legendary marathon on Sunday, October 10, 2027.
Here is why this massive update is a game-changer for American distance running and how it impacts the road to the 2028 Olympics.
A Major Championship on a Legendary Course
The 2027 event will bring together an exclusive, ultra-competitive field of 40 of the nation’s finest athletes—20 elite men and 20 elite women—to battle for national titles.
These top-tier runners will compete for a $110,000 prize purse, with payouts awarded through 10th place in both divisions.
For fans watching at home, the race will feature dedicated broadcast coverage. NBC will air the event locally in Chicago, while Peacock will stream it nationally, utilizing dedicated cameras to track the American national title race as it unfolds.
The Road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
This race is much more than just a high-stakes national championship; it is a critical launchpad for the next Olympic cycle.
With the Los Angeles Olympic Games looming in 2028, USATF is utilizing this championship to help build a formidable national team. To give more athletes a shot at making the cut, the Chicago Marathon is expanding its High Performance Program to 300 participants.
This expansion allows more runners to enter the elite field specifically to chase the qualifying standard for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
"This national championship will be a major part of ensuring Team USA is built for LA 2028," said USATF CEO Max Siegel, highlighting Chicago’s status as a world-class marathon city.
Key Dates and Registration
While the elites will capture the headlines, the 49th running of the Chicago Marathon will still welcome thousands of recreational runners from around the globe.
If you are planning to take on the famous 26.2-mile course through 29 diverse Chicago neighborhoods, mark your calendar for these critical application dates:
- Applications Open: Thursday, October 8 (8:00 a.m. CT)
- Applications Close: Thursday, October 29 (2:00 p.m. CT)
More details regarding specific athlete selection and entry procedures for the championship field will be released by organizers at a later date.
