About Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon runs on Patriots' Day — the third Monday of April — making the next edition April 19, 2027. The countdown above ticks toward the start in Hopkinton of the world's oldest annual marathon, run every year since 1897.
Boston is the runner's Everest: the only major marathon most participants must qualify for, with the famous "BQ" times sending 30,000 athletes down the historic course — through Wellesley's scream tunnel, over Heartbreak Hill at mile 20, to the roar down Boylston Street. The day doubles as a Massachusetts holiday, with the Red Sox playing their traditional 11 AM home game.
The race is tied to Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April in Massachusetts, so the calendar date shifts a little each year — April 19 in 2027 and April 17 in 2028. That floating-Monday rule makes it simple to look ahead, and the countdown above tracks the days until the gun in Hopkinton in your own timezone. Add the Boston Marathon to your own countdown page to follow the build-up to one of the six World Marathon Majors.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Monday, April 19, 2027next |
| 2028 | Monday, April 17, 2028 |
| 2029 | Monday, April 16, 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, April 15, 2030 |
| 2031 | Monday, April 21, 2031 |
FAQ
When is the Boston Marathon 2027?
Monday, April 19, 2027 — Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April.
Why is the Boston Marathon important?
First run in 1897, it is the world's oldest annual marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors, famous for requiring most runners to qualify.
How do you qualify for Boston?
By running a certified marathon under the qualifying time for your age and gender — the famous "BQ" — though charity entries also exist.
Where does the Boston Marathon start and finish?
It starts in Hopkinton and runs 26.2 miles east to the finish line on Boylston Street in downtown Boston.