Boston Qualifying Marathons 2026: Find BQ Friendly Races

ByKelly
Boston qualifying marathons

Find a BQ race that gives your training a fair shot

This Boston qualifying marathon finder is for runners who already know the goal: run a certified 26.2 mile race, choose the right course, and give yourself enough cushion under your Boston standard.

Quick note: BQ status, course certification, downhill rules, and race dates can change. Use this page to build your shortlist, then check the official race site and the B.A.A. rules before you build a full training block around one race.
Group of runners training together for a marathon

Boston Qualifier Marathon Finder

Start with month and course profile. A flat fall road race is a different choice than a warm winter race, a major marathon, or a downhill course that needs extra rule checking.

81 BQ listed races loaded.

Useful BQ marathon shortcuts

There is no perfect Boston qualifier for everyone. The best race is the one that fits your training season, your travel budget, and the kind of course where you pace well.

Flat or fast road racesStart with Houston, Tobacco Road, Erie, Baystate, Indianapolis Monumental, Toronto Waterfront, Hamilton, Manitoba, Fredericton, and P’tit Train du Nord.
Fall BQ attemptsSeptember to November gives many runners cooler weather after a summer training block. Look at Chicago, Baystate, Columbus, Toronto Waterfront, Hamilton, Philadelphia, Richmond, and Indianapolis.
Winter or early spring optionsHouston, Mesa, Miami, Surf City, Napa Valley, Eugene, and Tobacco Road can work if you want a goal race before spring fully arrives at home.
Canadian BQ optionsCanadian runners can start with Vancouver, Toronto, Fredericton, Calgary, Ottawa, Manitoba, Edmonton, Georgina, Montréal, Victoria, PEI, and Toronto Waterfront.
Downhill course checkDownhill races can be fast, but check the current net downhill amount and the B.A.A. indexing rules before you count the time.
First BQ attemptPick a race with simple travel, enough runners near your pace, reliable aid stations, and a course you can practise for in training.

What actually counts as a Boston qualifying marathon?

A Boston qualifier is not just any marathon where you run fast. The B.A.A. says the race must be a certified full marathon distance. Shorter races, virtual marathons, indoor marathons, treadmill efforts, and time trials do not count for Boston qualifying.

Runner tip: do not aim for your exact standard. The Boston Marathon often has more qualified applicants than available spots, so the final accepted time can be faster than the posted standard. Build a cushion into your goal pace if Boston is the main reason you are choosing the race.

Also check downhill rules. Starting with 2027 Boston registration, the B.A.A. applies time adjustments to qualifying results from courses with 1,500 feet or more of net downhill, and courses with 6,000 feet or more of net downhill are not accepted for Boston qualifying.

Check the official B.A.A. qualifying rules before you register.

How to choose a BQ friendly marathon

  1. Start with the qualifying window. Make sure the race date fits the Boston year you are targeting.
  2. Choose the course you can train for. Flat is simple, rolling can still be fast, and downhill needs specific quad training.
  3. Check the weather risk. A warm race can feel easy in January on paper, then punish you if race day is humid.
  4. Look at logistics. A calm hotel, easy start line, and familiar food can matter as much as the course profile.
  5. Verify the official wording. Check course certification, race distance, timing, and BQ language on the race site.

Boston qualifying marathons in this finder

This table is here for readers and search engines. The finder above is easier to use, but the table lets you scan the full shortlist by month, country, region, and course profile.

DateRaceCountryRegionCourseBQ profileLink
January 11, 2026Walt Disney World MarathonOrlando, FLUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
January 18, 2026Houston MarathonHouston, TXUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
January 25, 2026Miami MarathonMiami, FLUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
January 31, 2026Charleston MarathonCharleston, SCUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
February 1, 2026Surf City MarathonHuntington Beach, CAUSAWestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
February 14, 2026Mesa MarathonMesa, AZUSAWestDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
February 15, 2026Austin MarathonAustin, TXUSASouthRolling roadRolling roadRace site
March 1, 2026Atlanta MarathonAtlanta, GAUSASouthRolling roadRolling roadRace site
March 1, 2026Napa Valley MarathonNapa, CAUSAWestRolling roadRolling roadRace site
March 8, 2026Los Angeles MarathonLos Angeles, CAUSAWestRolling roadRolling roadRace site
March 15, 2026Tobacco Road MarathonCary, NCUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
March 28, 2026REVEL Mt Charleston MarathonLas Vegas, NVUSAWestDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
April 11, 2026Charlottesville MarathonCharlottesville, VAUSASouthHilly roadSmaller BQ raceRace site
April 2026Glass City MarathonToledo, OHUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
April 26, 2026Gopher Attack MarathonRegina, SKCanadaPrairiesFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
April 26, 2026Eugene MarathonEugene, ORUSAWestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
April 26, 2026Oklahoma City Memorial MarathonOklahoma City, OKUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
May 3, 2026BMO Vancouver MarathonVancouver, BCCanadaWest CoastRoadRoad BQRace site
May 3, 2026Toronto MarathonToronto, ONCanadaOntarioRoadRoad BQRace site
May 3, 2026Flying Pig MarathonCincinnati, OHUSAMidwestRolling roadRolling roadRace site
May 3, 2026Pittsburgh MarathonPittsburgh, PAUSANortheastRolling roadRolling roadRace site
May 8 to 10, 2026Fredericton MarathonFredericton, NBCanadaAtlantic CanadaFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
May 17, 2026Cleveland MarathonCleveland, OHUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
May 24, 2026Servus Calgary MarathonCalgary, ABCanadaPrairiesRoadRoad BQRace site
May 24, 2026Tamarack Ottawa International MarathonOttawa, ONCanadaOntarioRoadRoad BQRace site
May 30, 2026Fargo MarathonFargo, NDUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
June 6, 2026Utah Valley MarathonProvo, UTUSAWestDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
June 20, 2026Grandma's MarathonDuluth, MNUSAMidwestRolling roadFlat or fastRace site
June 21, 2026Bay of Fundy International MarathonCampobello Island, NBCanadaAtlantic CanadaRoadSmaller BQ raceRace site
June 21, 2026Manitoba MarathonWinnipeg, MBCanadaPrairiesFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
July 4, 2026Foot Traffic Flat MarathonPortland, ORUSAWestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
July 12, 2026Missoula MarathonMissoula, MTUSAWestRolling roadRolling roadRace site
July 26, 2026San Francisco MarathonSan Francisco, CAUSAWestHilly roadRoad BQRace site
August 16, 2026Servus Edmonton MarathonEdmonton, ABCanadaPrairiesFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
August 23, 2026Santa Rosa MarathonSanta Rosa, CAUSAWestRoadFlat or fastRace site
September 6, 2026Beantown MarathonHingham, MAUSANortheastLoop roadFlat or fastRace site
September 12, 2026Big Cottonwood MarathonSalt Lake City, UTUSAWestDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
September 13, 2026Georgina MarathonGeorgina, ONCanadaOntarioFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
September 13, 2026Erie Marathon at Presque IsleErie, PAUSANortheastFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
September 19, 2026Air Force MarathonDayton, OHUSAMidwestRoadRoad BQRace site
September 19, 2026Top of Utah MarathonLogan, UTUSAWestDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
September 20, 2026Treherne Run for the Hills MarathonTreherne, MBCanadaPrairiesRoadSmaller BQ raceRace site
September 20, 2026Fox Valley MarathonSt. Charles, ILUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
September 27, 2026Argus Apple MarathonKelowna, BCCanadaWest CoastFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
September 27, 2026Clarence DeMar MarathonKeene, NHUSANortheastRolling roadFlat or fastRace site
September 27, 2026Omaha MarathonOmaha, NEUSAMidwestRoadRoad BQRace site
October 2 to 4, 2026Marathon Beneva de QuébecQuébec City, QCCanadaQuebecRoadRoad BQRace site
October 3, 2026Marathon P'tit Train du NordSaint-Jérôme, QCCanadaQuebecFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 3, 2026St. George MarathonSt. George, UTUSAWestDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
October 4, 2026Legs for Literacy MarathonMoncton, NBCanadaAtlantic CanadaFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 4, 2026Maine MarathonPortland, MEUSANortheastRoadRoad BQRace site
October 4, 2026Portland MarathonPortland, ORUSAWestRoadRoad BQRace site
October 4, 2026Twin Cities MarathonMinneapolis and St. Paul, MNUSAMidwestRolling roadRolling roadRace site
October 9 to 11, 2026Marathon Beneva de MontréalMontréal, QCCanadaQuebecRoadRoad BQRace site
October 10, 2026Baltimore MarathonBaltimore, MDUSANortheastRolling roadRolling roadRace site
October 11, 2026Royal Victoria MarathonVictoria, BCCanadaWest CoastRoadRoad BQRace site
October 11, 2026Chicago MarathonChicago, ILUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 11, 2026Long Beach MarathonLong Beach, CAUSAWestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 11, 2026Newport MarathonNewport, RIUSANortheastRoadRoad BQRace site
October 11, 2026Steamtown MarathonScranton, PAUSANortheastDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
October 16 to 18, 2026Prince Edward Island MarathonCharlottetown, PECanadaAtlantic CanadaRoadRoad BQRace site
October 18, 2026TCS Toronto Waterfront MarathonToronto, ONCanadaOntarioFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 18, 2026Baystate MarathonLowell, MAUSANortheastFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 18, 2026Columbus MarathonColumbus, OHUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 18, 2026Detroit Free Press MarathonDetroit, MIUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
October 25, 2026Niagara Falls International MarathonNiagara Falls, ONCanadaOntarioRoadRoad BQRace site
October 25, 2026Marine Corps MarathonArlington and Washington, VAUSASouthRolling roadRolling roadRace site
October 31, 2026Hamilton Marathon Road2HopeHamilton, ONCanadaOntarioFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
November 1, 2026Boundary Bay MarathonDelta, BCCanadaWest CoastTrail or mixed surfaceFlat or fastRace site
November 1, 2026New York City MarathonNew York, NYUSANortheastRolling roadRolling roadRace site
November 7, 2026Indianapolis Monumental MarathonIndianapolis, INUSAMidwestFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
November 14, 2026Charlotte MarathonCharlotte, NCUSASouthRolling roadRolling roadRace site
November 14, 2026Richmond MarathonRichmond, VAUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
November 22, 2026Philadelphia MarathonPhiladelphia, PAUSANortheastFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
November 22, 2026Route 66 MarathonTulsa, OKUSASouthRolling roadRolling roadRace site
November 22, 2026Space Coast MarathonCocoa, FLUSASouthFlat roadFlat or fastRace site
November 29, 2026Seattle MarathonSeattle, WAUSAWestHilly roadRoad BQRace site
December 6, 2026California International MarathonSacramento, CAUSAWestDownhill roadDownhill reviewRace site
December 12, 2026Rocket City MarathonHuntsville, ALUSASouthRoadFlat or fastRace site
December 13, 2026Dallas MarathonDallas, TXUSASouthRoadRoad BQRace site
December 13, 2026Honolulu MarathonHonolulu, HIUSAWestRolling roadRolling roadRace site

Where this page fits with the marathon finder hub

This page is the BQ focused spin off. Use the main Marathon Finder if you want all race types, the Canada page for Canadian marathons only, and the USA page for state by state U.S. marathon planning.

Main Marathon FinderBest for broad marathon searching by month, country, course, and race size. Canada Marathon CalendarBest for Canadian races by province, region, month, and goal. USA Marathon CalendarBest for U.S. races by state, region, month, and race goal.

Boston qualifying marathon FAQ

How do I find a BQ friendly marathon?

Start with certified road marathons, then narrow by course profile, weather, month, and travel stress. A good BQ race is usually flat or gently rolling, has clear course certification, enough runners near your pace, and a race day setup that will not add extra stress.

Do all certified marathons count as Boston qualifiers?

Not automatically in a practical sense. The course needs to meet the B.A.A. criteria, the race must provide official results, and the B.A.A. can review and verify qualifying performances. Always check the official race page and the B.A.A. rules.

Are downhill marathons still good for Boston qualifying?

Some can be, but you need to check the current net downhill amount. Starting with 2027 registration, the B.A.A. adds time adjustments for courses with 1,500 feet or more of net downhill, and courses with 6,000 feet or more are not accepted.

What is the best month to run a Boston qualifier?

For many runners, September, October, and November work well because the weather is cooler and the summer training block is finished. Winter and spring races can also work if the course, travel, and weather fit your training.

Can I qualify at the Boston Marathon itself?

Boston is usually the goal race after you qualify. You may run a fast time there, but most runners looking for their first entry need to qualify at another accepted marathon before applying.

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