The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) reported Monday it had received 36,406 applications for registration into the 2025 Boston Marathon, breaking all previous records. As a result, the organization announced it would tighten the qualifying standard for all runners under 60 by five minutes, and these new standards will apply to both the 2026 and 2027 editions of the race. (The standards for runners over 60 will not change.)
Qualifying standards for the 2026 Boston Marathon
Note: the qualifying standards refer to chip time (i.e., net time).
| AGE GROUP | MEN’S STANDARD | WOMEN’S STANDARD | NON-BINARY STANDARD |
| 18-34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35-39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65-69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80 and older | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |
Registration for the 2025 race took place last week (it ended Friday and is now closed), with applications from runners in 120 countries and 50 U.S. states. The previous record for applicactions was 33,058, set last year for this year’s race.
“The enthusiasm and desire from athletes around the world aiming to participate in the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is unmatched, and is truly what makes the Boston Marathon such a special event,” B.A.A president and CEO Jack Fleming said in a press release. “The record number of applicants indicates the growing trend of our sport and shows that athletes are continuously getting faster and faster. We look forward to welcoming 30,000 athletes in their pursuit of the finish line this April, and we are already planning for a memorable event experience from start to finish.”
Cut-off for 2025 still TBD
The B.A.A. has not yet determined what the “cut-off” time needed to be accepted into the 2025 race will be (i.e., the amount by which runners must exceed their qualifying time in order to be accepted), and asked runners to be patient as it sorts through registration applications. This information will eventually be posted on the organization’s website and social media channels, and runners who have applied for registration for 2025 will receive an e-mail response on their acceptance or non-acceptance by early October.
In 2024, only 66 per cent of Boston applicants were accepted into the race–the second-lowest acceptance rate in the event’s history.
Boston Marathon registration opens next week: will you qualify?
The qualifying window for the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, to be held April 20, 2026, opened on Sept. 1 and goes through to the end of registration week in September 2025.
The Boston Marathon has had qualifying standards since 1970. For more information on the history of the race’s qualifying standards, click here.
Qualifying times for athletes competing amongst the Para Athletics Division, Adaptive Program, wheelchair division, handcycle, or duo programs will not change, and can be found here.
The 2025 Boston Marathon will take place April 21.
