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2026 Boston Marathon route and key details for the 130th race
Summary
The 130th Boston Marathon will run on Patriots' Day and features about 30,000 runners from 137 countries and all 50 U.S. states; the course begins in Hopkinton and finishes on Boylston Street at Copley Square.
Content
The 130th Boston Marathon is taking place on the third Monday in April, which aligns with Massachusetts' Patriots' Day holiday. The event is the world's oldest continuous marathon and is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. About 30,000 runners from 137 countries and all 50 U.S. states are taking part this year. The race includes divisions for wheelchair, handcycle, Para Athletics and duo teams, and the overall prize purse exceeds $1 million.
Key facts:
- The race begins in staggered waves on Main Street in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
- The course proceeds along Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley before moving onto Route 16 into Newton.
- Runners continue on Commonwealth Avenue and tackle the Newton Hills, including Heartbreak Hill between miles 20 and 21.
- The route passes the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and follows Beacon Street through Brookline and Kenmore Square.
- The finish stretches include a right onto Hereford Street and a left onto Boylston Street, ending at Copley Square beside the Boston Public Library.
Summary:
The race maintains its traditional point-to-point route from Hopkinton to Copley Square and draws a large international field across multiple competition divisions. Undetermined at this time.
