BOSTON — The Boston Athletic Association has released bib numbers, corral placements, and start times for runners registered in the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. The race will take place on Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 20, 2026. Participants can now log into their B.A.A. Athletes’ Village accounts online to view their individual bib numbers and start assignments.
Race organizers say the announcement marks another milestone as runners prepare for the historic event. B.A.A. President and CEO Jack Fleming said athletes representing all 50 states and more than 130 countries will line up on race morning, traveling the iconic course from Hopkinton through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and ultimately to the finish line on Boylston Street in Boston.
This year brings a significant change to the start procedure. Instead of the traditional four waves used in recent years, the 2026 race will begin in six waves while maintaining the same overall field size of 30,000 runners. The adjustment is designed to improve the race-day experience, from bus loading and arrival in Hopkinton’s Athletes’ Village to overall spacing throughout the 26.2-mile course.
Under the new system, waves will contain between 3,200 and 7,100 participants, compared to the roughly 7,500 runners per wave used previously. Officials say the smaller groups are intended to improve athlete flow and reduce congestion along the route.
B.A.A. Chief of Operations and Production Lauren Proshan said the updated structure was developed with input from crowd science experts and race organizers. The goal is to create a smoother progression for runners as they move from gear check to bus loading, into Athletes’ Village, across the starting line, and throughout the race. As in previous years, all runners are expected to start before 11:30 a.m., and the finish line will close at 5:30 p.m.
Athletes will also be directed to the starting line using two different routes depending on their assigned corral. Runners in corrals 1 through 4 will leave Athletes’ Village via Maple Street and Church Street, while those in corrals 5 through 8 will head down Grove Street before turning onto Main Street. Volunteers and race staff will be stationed along the routes to help guide participants.
A full Participant Guide for the 2026 race is now available online and includes maps, schedules, and additional details for race day logistics. Runners are encouraged to monitor updates through the B.A.A. website, email newsletters, the B.A.A. Racing App, and official Boston Marathon social media channels.
130th Boston Marathon Start Schedule (April 20, 2026)
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Wheelchair Division – Men: 9:06 a.m.
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Wheelchair Division – Women: 9:09 a.m.
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Handcycles/Duo Teams: 9:30 a.m.
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Professional Men: 9:37 a.m.
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Professional Women: 9:47 a.m.
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Para Athletics Division: 9:50 a.m.
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Wave 1: 10:00 a.m.
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Wave 2: 10:15 a.m.
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Wave 3: 10:28 a.m.
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Wave 4: 10:41 a.m.
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Wave 5: 11:01 a.m.
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Wave 6: 11:21 a.m.
The Boston Athletic Association, founded in 1887, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles through sports, particularly running. In addition to organizing the Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. supports youth programs, charitable initiatives, and year-round events.
The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, alongside races in Tokyo, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. More information about the race and athlete resources can be found at baa.org.
