2027 Marathon Calendar

Every 2027 marathon worldwide, grouped by month from January's flat winter speed to spring's Majors — plus when each lottery and ballot opens, so you plan the registration window, not just the race day.

Updated 2026-07-09 Sorted by race date. Field sizes and course data are checked against each race's official source.

January 2027 11 marathons

February 2027 13 marathons

March 2027 27 marathons

April 2027 40 marathons

May 2027 35 marathons

June 2027 2 marathons

October 2027 1 marathons

The 2027 marathon season

The 2027 calendar front-loads its biggest races into a January-to-May arc. Winter opens with fast, BQ-friendly courses — Houston (about 20 m of total climb), Osaka and Japan's crisp early-year season — before the year builds to its peak. March brings Tokyo, the first World Marathon Major of the year, alongside Barcelona and Rome; April stacks Paris (around 55,000 runners), Boston and London within two weeks. Use the month chips above to jump straight to your racing window, or filter the grid by course profile and BQ status.

On a year page the decisive question is timing of entry, not just the date. Most Majors run on a lottery cycle that opens months — sometimes most of a year — before the start line: Tokyo's lottery runs in the summer before, London's ballot in late April, and the autumn Majors (Chicago, New York, Berlin) open their windows across October and February. Many spring-2027 windows have already opened or closed by now, while the autumn cycle is still ahead — the date-sorted grid and live countdowns above show what is still open to plan around. Always confirm exact dates on the official race site.

Choosing your first 2027 marathon? Favour a flat, well-supported course with a generous cutoff, and register early — open-entry races like Barcelona and Rome sell out, and big-city fields fill fast. Chasing a Boston qualifier? The flattest courses here are Houston, Osaka (about 21 m) and Wuxi (about 25 m); see the BQ race guide, check your target with the Boston Qualifying calculator, and build the block with a training plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many World Marathon Majors are there in 2027, and which are on this calendar?

As of 2026 there are seven Abbott World Marathon Majors, after Sydney became the seventh for the 2025 season (announced in November 2024). Three fall within this calendar's January-to-May window: Tokyo (March 7), Boston (April 19) and London (April 25). The series may expand toward a Nine Star journey if candidate races complete their assessment, but that is not yet confirmed — check the official Majors site for the current line-up.

When do the 2027 marathon ballots and lotteries open?

It varies by race and most windows open well ahead of race day. Tokyo's lottery runs in the summer before the March race; London's public ballot opens in late April; the autumn Majors stagger across the back half of the year — Berlin's window opens around late September with results in December, Chicago's runs October–November, and New York City opens its drawing in February. By mid-2026 several spring-2027 windows have already opened or closed, while the autumn cycle is still ahead. Always confirm exact dates on each official race site.

What's the difference between a ballot, open registration and a qualifying entry?

A ballot (lottery) is a random draw — you apply in a set window and may or may not get a place (Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York). Open registration is first-come, first-served until the field is full (Barcelona, Rome and most mid-size races). A qualifying entry requires a time standard — Boston is the headline example, where you must run a qualifying time at an earlier certified race just to enter. Check your standard with the Boston Qualifying calculator.

Which 2027 marathons are easiest to get into?

Open-entry races give you the best odds because there is no draw — you simply register before they sell out. On this calendar that includes Barcelona, Rome and most mid-size domestic races, while flat, fast courses like Osaka still fill months ahead. Lottery Majors (Tokyo, London) are the hardest; if a draw is the goal, build a backup of open-entry races so a rejection does not end your season.

What are the best spring marathons in 2027, and how do I choose?

Spring is the deepest stretch of the 2027 calendar. For a Major and a bucket-list atmosphere, target Tokyo, Boston or London; for a big-city PR with open entry, look at Barcelona, Paris or Manchester (around 40,000 runners and one of the flatter big-city profiles). Choose on entry method and travel first, then terrain — the PR race guide and scenery picks narrow it down.

How far in advance should I register for a 2027 marathon?

Plan around the entry window, not the race date. Lottery Majors require applying six months to nearly a year ahead — Tokyo's draw is the summer before, London's the previous spring — so a runner targeting a spring-2027 Major typically had to enter during 2026. Open-entry races give more flexibility but the popular ones (Barcelona, Rome, big-city events) still sell out months out, so register as soon as entries open and book travel only once your place is confirmed.