The 10 Best Marathons in the World for Bucket-List Runners in 2027
By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Direct answer
The TCS New York City Marathon is the best bucket-list marathon in the world for 2027, with 59,226 finishers in 2025 and a course through the five boroughs. Tokyo (March 7, 2027) is #2 and Boston (April 19, 2027) is #3. Dates come from each organizer; New York has not published its 2027 date yet.
Answrs VerdictThe five-borough marathon with the largest published finisher count here.
2027 date: Not published yet; the 2025 race was on Sunday, November 2, 2025Entry: A non-guaranteed drawing (dates to be announced), plus charity partners, international tour operators, the 9+1 program and time qualifiersCourse: 26.2 miles through the five boroughs of NYC; first run along the city streets on October 24, 1976Field size: 59,226 finishers in 2025, one of the largest marathons in the world
The TCS New York City Marathon has not published its 2027 date; the 2025 race was on Sunday, November 2, 2025 with 59,226 finishers. It runs 26.2 miles through the five boroughs, and entry is by a non-guaranteed drawing, charity partners, international tour operators, the 9+1 program or time qualifiers.
Go ifRunners who want the biggest five-borough city party
Skip ifYou need a confirmed 2027 date and drawing window today
Why #1 over #2: Its 59,226 finishers are the largest published finisher count here, ahead of the 30,000 participants at Boston.
2
Tokyo Marathon
Photo: nakashi from Ichikawa, Chiba, JAPAN / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA Platinum Label Major whose 2027 lottery is already drawn.
2027 date: Sunday, March 7, 2027Entry: The general-entry lottery has been drawn (results announced September 11, 2026); charity applications are closedCourse: From the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building through Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate, Ryogoku, Ginza and Hibiya to Tokyo Station; certified by the JAAF, AIMS and World AthleticsRace label: World Athletics Platinum Label; cut-off of 7 hoursEntry for 2028: Virtual-run series give 30 participants per event a chance to win a place in the 2028 race
The Tokyo Marathon is on Sunday, March 7, 2027. The general-entry lottery has been drawn, and the course runs from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building through Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate and Ginza to Tokyo Station.
Go ifThe first Major of the year, through central Tokyo
Skip ifYou did not win a lottery or charity place
Why #2 over #3: Its Platinum Label course through central Tokyo comes with a lottery already drawn, where Boston needs a qualifying time.
3
Boston Marathon
Photo: Rob Larsen from Boston, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe qualifier-only Major, first run in 1897.
2027 date: April 19, 2027 (the 131st Boston Marathon, run on Patriots’ Day)Entry: Qualify first: men 18-34 need 2:55:00 and women 18-34 need 3:25:00; qualifier registration is closed (September 14-18, 2026)Acceptances: 25,630 qualified applicants accepted, with a cutoff of 5 minutes and 17 seconds faster than the standard; 8,019 applicants were not acceptedCourse: Hopkinton to Boylston Street through eight cities and towns, with the Newton Hills between Miles 17.5 and 21Field size: 30,000 participants race on Patriots’ Day
The Boston Marathon is on April 19, 2027. You must qualify first (2:55:00 for men and 3:25:00 for women aged 18-34), and 25,630 qualified applicants were accepted for the 131st running.
Go ifRunners who have a fast qualifying time and want the sport’s oldest annual marathon
Skip ifYou do not hold a qualifying time
Why #3 over #4: Its qualifier-only field of 30,000 comes ahead of Sydney, whose ballot has already closed.
4
TCS Sydney Marathon
Answrs VerdictA Major that finishes at the Sydney Opera House.
2027 date: Sunday, 29 August 2027Entry: Ballot for 2027 ran 29 September to 19 October 2026 at AUD $285 (Australia and New Zealand) or AUD $340 (international), plus a carbon levy; unsuccessful applicants are offered Travel and Charity Program optionsCourse: Start on Miller Street, North Sydney; finish at the Sydney Opera House; 7-hour cut-off; World Athletics Platinum labelTravel entry: Guaranteed entries through more than 100 official travel partnersField size: More than 40,000 runners from over 140 countries in 2026
The TCS Sydney Marathon is on Sunday, 29 August 2027, starting in North Sydney and finishing at the Sydney Opera House. The 2027 ballot closed on 19 October 2026, and travel partners still offer guaranteed entries.
Go ifA late-winter Southern Hemisphere Major finishing at the Opera House
Skip ifYou want a ballot that is still open
Why #4 over #5: Its Opera House finish and 40,000 runners come ahead of Cape Town, which is only joining the Majors in 2027.
5
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Answrs VerdictThe newest Major, now on the 2027 calendar.
2027 date: Marathon on 23 May 2027 (the festival runs 22 and 23 May 2027)Majors status: Confirmed on June 10, 2026 as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major and the first in Africa, joining the series in 2027Entry: The 2027 ballot is closed; International Tour Operator and charity entries opened on 26 June 2026, first-come, first-servedStart and finish: Stadium start on Fritz Sonnenberg Road or Beach Road start at Mouille Point; finish on Vlei Road2026 race: Three of the four course records were broken on the 24 May 2026 race day
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is on 23 May 2027 and becomes the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major, the first in Africa. The 2027 ballot is closed, but tour operator and charity entries opened on 26 June 2026.
Go ifRunners chasing the new African Major
Skip ifYou missed the ballot and do not want a tour or charity entry
Why #5 over #6: It is the newest Major, where Chicago’s application is open until October 29.
6
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Answrs VerdictThe Major you can still apply for this month.
2027 date: Sunday, October 10, 2027 (the 49th running)Entry: Application window runs October 8 to October 29, 2026 at 2 p.m. Central; the application has no fee and drawing results go out on December 8Entry fee: $250 for U.S. residents and $260 for non-U.S. residents (charity entries $325 and $335), plus a processing feeGuaranteed entry: Time qualifier, legacy finisher, or raise at least $2,500 for a charityCourse and field: Through 29 neighborhoods; an estimated 1.7 million spectators cheer 55,000 runners
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is on Sunday, October 10, 2027. Applications are open until October 29, 2026 at no fee, and the course passes through 29 neighborhoods with an estimated 1.7 million spectators.
Go ifA Major whose 2027 application is open right now
Skip ifYou cannot apply before the October 29 deadline
Why #6 over #7: Its free application is open now, where London’s ballot has already been drawn.
7
TCS London Marathon
Answrs VerdictA one-off two-day Major with charity places still open.
2027 date: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027, run over two days for the first and only timeField size: 100,000 runners across the two daysEntry: The 2027 ballot has been drawn (results sent on 9 July); a limited number of charity places are still availableEntry fee: £79.99 (£49.99 for ballot winners who doubled their chances); £275 international entry feeCourse: Loops around Cutty Sark between Miles 6 and 7, crosses Tower Bridge and finishes on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace
The TCS London Marathon runs over two days, 24 and 25 April 2027, for the first and only time, with 100,000 runners. The ballot has been drawn, and a limited number of charity places are still available.
Go ifThe two-day edition through Greenwich, Tower Bridge and The Mall
Skip ifYou need a ballot place
Why #7 over #8: Its 100,000-runner two-day format beats Berlin, where entry is by lottery only.
8
Generali Berlin-Marathon
Photo: Amy EWen / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe flat, fast Major entered by lottery.
2027 date: Sunday, September 26, 2027Entry: Lottery: registration October 1 to November 12, 2026, with results on December 3, 2026Entry fee: €215, charged after the drawingCourse: Known as the flattest of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, with 15 aid stationsCourse record: Tigst Assefa won in 2:11:04 in 2026, improving her own course record
The Generali Berlin-Marathon is on September 26, 2027, entered by lottery between October 1 and November 12, 2026 for €215. The organizer calls the course the flattest of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Go ifThe flattest Major, entered by lottery
Skip ifYou need a guaranteed place
Why #8 over #9: Its flat course and lottery come ahead of the Great Wall Marathon, with its 5,164 steps.
9
Great Wall Marathon
Answrs VerdictA 5,164-step race on the Great Wall, entered only with a tour package.
2027 date: 15 May 2027, at Huangyaguan, ChinaCourse: 5,164 steps along the Great Wall; marathon, half marathon and an 8.5 km fun run over asphalt and gravelEntry: Registration for 2027 is open; all international runners must sign up for a tour packageTour packages: From USD 790 (regional package, 14-16 May) to USD 2090 (7-day package, 11-17 May)Field size: A sell-out event of 2500 runners since its start in 1999
The Great Wall Marathon is on 15 May 2027 at Huangyaguan, China, over 5,164 steps. Registration is open, and all international runners must sign up for a tour package starting at USD 790.
Go ifRunners who want the most demanding non-Major on the list
Skip ifYou want a flat course or a race without a tour package
Why #9 over #10: Its Great Wall steps and tour packages come ahead of the Big Five Marathon, where packages start at EUR 3190.
10
Big Five Marathon
Answrs VerdictA trail marathon through a South African game reserve.
2027 date: 19 June 2027, at Entabeni, South AfricaCourse: A sand and gravel trail run (42.2k or 21.1k) through a game reserve and the habitat of the Big Five: elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopardEntry: All international runners must sign up for a tour packageTour packages: EUR 3190 for the 7-day package (16-22 June) and EUR 3590 for the 8-day package (15-22 June)
The Big Five Marathon is on 19 June 2027 at Entabeni, South Africa, a sand and gravel trail run through a game reserve. International runners must book a tour package, from EUR 3190 for 7 days.
Go ifRunners who want to race among African wildlife
Skip ifYou want a road race or a smaller budget
How we ranked these
We ranked the ten on the course facts each organizer publishes, on whether the race is one of the eight Abbott World Marathon Majors, and on how open entry is for 2027. Only two European races appear, Berlin and London, because both are Majors. Dates are given only where the organizer has published 2027; otherwise the page says the 2027 date is not out yet. Entry rules and fees are the organizers’ own and can change. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
Which marathons are World Marathon Majors in 2027?
Eight: Tokyo, Boston, London, Cape Town, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was confirmed on June 10, 2026 as the eighth and joins the series in 2027.
Can I still apply for the Chicago Marathon in 2027?
Yes, until October 29, 2026 at 2 p.m. Central. The application is free, and drawing results go out on December 8. Charity entries need at least $2,500 raised.
What time do I need to qualify for the Boston Marathon?
For ages 18-34 the standard is 2:55:00 for men and 3:25:00 for women. For 2027 the cutoff was 5 minutes and 17 seconds faster than the standard, and qualifier registration is closed.
Which bucket-list marathons need a tour package?
The Great Wall Marathon (15 May 2027) and the Big Five Marathon (19 June 2027): all international runners must sign up for a tour package.
Field size each organizer publishes (runners) at a glance
Great Wall Marathon2,500 runners
Boston Marathon30,000 runners
TCS Sydney Marathon40,000 runners
Bank of America Chicago Marathon55,000 runners
TCS New York City Marathon59,226 runners
TCS London Marathon100,000 runners
Field size each organizer publishes (runners), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
