The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 11, bringing tens of thousands of runners to the streets of Chicago for one of the world’s premier distance-running events. The elite men’s and women’s races begin at 7:30 a.m. Central Time (CT), while the first wave of recreational runners starts at 7:35 a.m. Live television coverage in the Chicago market begins at 7 a.m. on NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago and TeleXitos, with digital streaming available through the stations’ websites and apps. (Official race schedule; NBC Sports)
What Time Does the Chicago Marathon 2026 Start?
The Chicago Marathon starts in Grant Park, with different divisions and participant waves setting off at staggered times throughout the morning. The professional wheelchair divisions begin first, followed by handcycle athletes, elite runners and recreational participants.
The elite men’s and women’s races are scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, October 11. The first wave of general participants follows at 7:35 a.m.
Chicago Marathon 2026 Start Times
All times are local to Chicago (Central Daylight Time, UTC−5).
| Division or event | Start time |
|---|---|
| Men’s professional wheelchair | 7:20 a.m. |
| Women’s professional wheelchair | 7:21 a.m. |
| Handcycle | 7:23 a.m. |
| Men’s and women’s professional runners | 7:30 a.m. |
| High Performance Program | 7:32 a.m. |
| Wave 1 | 7:35 a.m. |
| Wave 2 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Wave 3 | 8:35 a.m. |
| Spectator access to Grant Park | 9:30 a.m. |
The schedule comes from the official Chicago Marathon spectator information. Organizers note that race-day times may change.
What Time Does the Chicago Marathon Start in Different U.S. Time Zones?
The elite race starts at 7:30 a.m. in Chicago, which is in the Central Time Zone. Viewers elsewhere in the United States should use their local time zone to plan their morning.
| City or region | Time zone | Elite Start | TV coverage begins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, Illinois | Central | 7:30 a.m. | 7:00 a.m. |
| New York, New York | Eastern | 8:30 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. |
| Miami, Florida | Eastern | 8:30 a.m. | 8:00 a.m. |
| Denver, Colorado | Mountain | 6:30 a.m. | 6:00 a.m. |
| Los Angeles, California | Pacific | 5:30 a.m. | 5:00 a.m. |
| Phoenix, Arizona | Mountain Standard Time | 5:30 a.m. | 5:00 a.m. |
| Anchorage, Alaska | Alaska | 4:30 a.m. | 4:00 a.m. |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | Hawaii-Aleutian | 2:30 a.m. | 2:00 a.m. |
The table converts the Chicago schedule to the listed cities. Phoenix generally does not observe daylight saving time; local rules can differ in parts of Arizona. Television availability may vary by market and provider.
How to Watch the Chicago Marathon 2026 Live on TV
Viewers in the Chicago area can watch the race on NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago, with additional coverage on TeleXitos. The scheduled television window is 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, October 11.
| Channel | Coverage |
|---|---|
| NBC 5 Chicago | English-language television coverage |
| Telemundo Chicago | Spanish-language television coverage |
| TeleXitos | Additional television coverage |
These are confirmed local broadcast options. Viewers outside the Chicago market should check their local listings and provider availability before assuming the same television channels are accessible nationwide.
For official details, visit the Chicago Marathon’s race-day broadcast guide.
How to Stream the Chicago Marathon 2026 Online
The race will also be available through digital platforms associated with NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago. The announced streaming window runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT, extending beyond the main television broadcast to include finish-line coverage.
Online options include:
- NBCChicago.com: Digital coverage from NBC 5 Chicago.
- TelemundoChicago.com: Spanish-language digital coverage.
- NBC 5 Chicago and Telemundo Chicago apps: Streaming through the local stations’ applications.
- Station streaming channels: Availability through platforms such as Roku and Apple TV, depending on the service.
NBC Sports also lists NBC Sports NOW and the NBC Chicago channel on Peacock among its streaming options. Access and programming may differ by platform, location and subscription requirements, so check the service before race day.
Official viewing information is available from NBC Sports and the race organizer.
How to Track Chicago Marathon Runners Live
Fans who want to follow a specific participant can use the official Chicago Marathon app and the race’s online tracking tools. These resources provide runner tracking and race updates, allowing spectators to follow participants along the course.
Visit the official Chicago Marathon website for event information and links to race-day resources.
What to Know About the 2026 Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon returns for its 48th edition on Sunday, October 11. The 26.2-mile (42.195-kilometer) course starts and finishes in Grant Park and passes through 29 Chicago neighborhoods.
The men’s elite field includes defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda. Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa returns as the defending women’s champion, while Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei is another major name in the women’s race. These are pre-race contenders, not confirmed 2026 results.
Follow the official race website and the broadcasters’ live coverage for schedule changes, race updates and confirmed finishing times.
