Boston Marathon 2026 Start Times Revealed: Wheelchairs, Pros & Waves Schedule Detailed

Boston’s biggest running day is almost here, and for the first time ever, the 130th Boston Marathon will launch using six separate starting waves—each staggered by minutes—to streamline who hits the pavement when. Here’s your all-in guide to every start time, route nuance, broadcast detail and tracking tip you’ll need to make the most of Marathon Monday.

Start times: Wheelchairs, elites and all. Six waves for the open field

The Boston Athletic Association has finalized the schedule, placing the men’s wheelchair division at the very front, departing Hopkinton at 9:06 a.m. ET, followed closely by the women’s at 9:09 a.m. From there, handcycles and duo teams roll out at 9:30 a.m, professional men at 9:37 a.m, professional women at 9:47 a.m, and para athletics divisions at 9:50 a.m. The open division—roughly 30,000 runners—will start across six waves, beginning at 10:00 a.m and wrapping up with the final wave heading out at 11:21 a.m. All runners must finish by the course cutoff time of 5:30 p.m.

Route highlights & expected leader splits

All racers will cover the classic 26.2-mile route, starting in Hopkinton and passing through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, before finishing at Boylston Street in Boston. The elite men are expected around Heartbreak Hill—which falls between miles 20 and 21—just past 11:10 a.m., with elite women close behind at roughly 11:32 a.m.

Wheelchair contenders, who burst onto the route early, should reach the finish by approximately 10:21 a.m. for men and roughly 15 minutes later for women. The pros wrap up their ends earlier than many open-wave runners—with men anticipated at Copley Square around 11:40 a.m. and women at 12:04 p.m.

Watching & tracking: How to tune in live or follow along

If you’re in Boston and want to be part of the action, channel your support from one of many viewing spots. WCVB Channel 5 (ABC) launches its local broadcast at 4 a.m. on race day and will carry exclusive coverage through the morning. National viewers can watch on ESPN2 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and ESPN+ will stream the full breadth of coverage across platforms.

For those following individual runners, two tools are indispensable. The Boston Athletic Association’s Racing App offers live tracking, real-time maps, and leaderboards. You can also track a runner by name or bib on the BAA website. Expect updates throughout the day and results once runners cross the finish.

Spectator tips: Where to go & when you’ll see runners

Being in the right spot takes timing. If you want to catch the wheelchair divisions near Heartbreak Hill, aim to be there before 10:04 a.m. For watching the elites, arrive by 11:10 a.m. to see the men and around 11:32 a.m. for the women. Finish line fans should be ready for the pros by noon or just after.

Traveling around Newton? The Green Line has useful stops at Woodland and Boston College. Spectator guidelines urge people to avoid blocking roads, especially near Corrals 5-8, which exit the Athletes’ Village via Grove Street and Main Street, while Corrals 1-4 route through Maple and Church streets.

Weather, safety, and the sheer volume of people mean start and corral logistics are tighter than ever. Expect strict enforcement of bib assignments and padding of estimated times between waves from 13 to 20 minutes to reduce congestion.

Key start window summary

• Wheelchairs (Men / Women): 9:06 a.m. / 9:09 a.m.
• Handcycles & Duo Teams: 9:30 a.m.
• Pro Men / Pro Women: 9:37 a.m. / 9:47 a.m.
• Para Athletes: 9:50 a.m.
• Wave 1-6 open field: 10:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 10:28 a.m., 10:41 a.m., 11:01 a.m., 11:21 a.m.
• Course cutoff time: 5:30 p.m.

With shorter gaps between waves this year—some just 13 minutes—crowding and logistical stress should ease, though plan ahead to catch the runners you came to see.

Top-line numbers: over 30,000 runners will compete, representing 129 or more countries and all 50 U.S. states. Thousands of spectators will line the historic 26.2-mile course—or watch via screen or streaming—from the 6 a.m. Military March start through the final finisher before 5:30 p.m.

Final word: Marathon Monday in Boston always delivers: early-morning energy, the drama of elite competition, and thousands chasing dreams. With clearly defined start times, enhanced wave logistics, and robust viewing options, 2026 promises one of the best yet.