Chicago Marathon 2026: 1,000,000 spectators expected as road closures, traffic restrictions and race-day timings revealed

The Chicago Marathon is coming back this weekend and is expected to bring extensive road closures and traffic disruptions as more than 55,000 runners cover 26.2 miles through 29 neighborhoods. According to BlockClubChicago.org, multiple streets around Grant Park, the marathon’s beginning and end point, will remain closed on Thursday through Monday afternoon, while additional closures begin Saturday and Sunday as the marathon route is prepared. On the Race Day, closures will begin at 4 a.m. Sunday and are expected to last until 8 p.m., depending on certain streets and when streets are deemed safe to reopen. Parking restrictions will also be strictly enforced, with vehicles towed from posted no-parking zones.

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Which roads will remain closed for Chicago Marathon?

Some of the major road closures include:


Grant Park closures:

• Balbo Dr. from Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr., 6am on 9/24 to 3pm on 10/16
• Balbo Dr. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr., 4am on 10/8 to 3pm on 10/12
• Jackson Dr. from Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr., 4am on 10/8 to 6am on 10/12
• Jackson Dr. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr., 4am on 10/8 to 8pm on 10/11
• Columbus Dr. from Ida B. Wells Dr. to Roosevelt Rd., 4am on 10/8 to 3pm on 10/12
• Columbus Dr. from Monroe St. to Ida B. Wells Dr., 4am on 10/8 to 8pm on 10/11
• Congress Plaza Dr. from Michigan Ave. (Van Buren St. to Harrison St.), 4am on 10/8 to 8pm on 10/11
• Ida B. Wells Dr. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr., 4am on 10/8 to 8pm on 10/11
• Columbus Dr. from Randolph St. to Monroe St., 4am on 10/10 to 5pm on 10/11
• Roosevelt Rd. from Columbus Dr. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr., 11am on 10/10 to 6pm on 10/11
• Monroe St. from Michigan Ave. to DuSable Lake Shore Dr., 4am on 10/10 to 5pm on 10/11
• Columbus Dr. from McFetridge Dr. to Roosevelt Rd., 4am on 10/11 to 6pm on 10/11
• Michigan Ave. from Madison St. to Balbo Dr., 4am on 10/11 to 4pm on 10/11
• Roosevelt Rd. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr., 4am on 10/11 to 6pm on 10/11
• Michigan Ave. from Balbo Dr. to Roosevelt Rd., 5:30am on 10/11 to 6pm on 10/11

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Street closures along the race course beginning at 6am:

• Columbus Dr. from Start to Grand Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 10:30am on 10/11
• Grand Ave. from Columbus Dr. to Dearborn St., 6am on 10/11 to 10:30am on 10/11
• Dearborn St. from Grand Ave. to Jackson Blvd., 6am on 10/11 to 11am on 10/11
• Jackson Blvd. from Dearborn St. to LaSalle St., 6am on 10/11 to 11am on 10/11
• LaSalle St. from Jackson Blvd. to Stockton Dr., 6am on 10/11 to 11:30am on 10/11
• Stockton Dr. from LaSalle Dr. to Fullerton Dr., 6am on 10/11 to 12pm on 10/11
• Fullerton Dr. from Stockton Dr. to Cannon Dr., 6am on 10/11 to 12pm on 10/11
• Cannon Dr. from Fullerton Dr. to Sheridan Rd., 6am on 10/11 to 12pm on 10/11
• Sheridan Rd. from Diversey Pkwy. to Belmont Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 12pm on 10/11
• Inner Lakeshore Dr. from Belmont Ave. to Sheridan Rd., 6am on 10/11 to 12pm on 10/11
• Sheridan Rd. from Inner Lakeshore Dr. to Broadway, 6am on 10/11 to 12:30pm on 10/11
• Broadway from Sheridan Rd. to Briar Pl., 6am on 10/11 to 12:30pm on 10/11
• Broadway from Briar Pl. to Diversey Pkwy., 6am on 10/11 to 12:45pm on 10/11
• Clark St. from Diversey Pkwy. to Fullerton Pkwy., 6am on 10/11 to 12:45pm on 10/11
• Clark St. from Fullerton Pkwy. to Webster Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 1pm on 10/11
• Webster Ave. from Clark St. to Sedgwick St., 6am on 10/11 to 1pm on 10/11
• Sedgwick St. from Webster Ave. to North Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 1:15pm on 10/11
• North Ave. from Sedgwick St. to Wells St., 6am on 10/11 to 1:30pm on 10/11
• Wells St. from North Ave. to Walton St., 6am on 10/11 to 1:30pm on 10/11
• Wells St. from Walton St. to Wacker Dr., 6am on 10/11 to 1:30pm on 10/11
• Wacker Dr. from Wells St. to Adams St., 6am on 10/11 to 1:45pm on 10/11
• Adams St. from Wacker Dr. to Damen Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 2pm on 10/11
• Damen Ave. from Adams St. to Jackson Blvd., 6am on 10/11 to 2pm on 10/11
• Jackson Blvd. from Damen Ave. to Halsted St., 6am on 10/11 to 2:30pm on 10/11
• Halsted St. from Jackson Blvd. to Taylor St., 6am on 10/11 to 2:30pm on 10/11
• Taylor St. from Halsted St. to Loomis St., 6am on 10/11 to 2:45pm on 10/11
• Loomis St. from Taylor St. to 18th St., 6am on 10/11 to 3pm on 10/11
• 18th St. from Loomis St. to Halsted St., 6am on 10/11 to 3:15pm on 10/11
• Halsted St. from 18th St. to 21st St., 6am on 10/11 to 3:15pm on 10/11
• 21st St. from Halsted St. to Canalport Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 3:15pm on 10/11
• Canalport Ave. from 21st St. to Cermak Rd., 6am on 10/11 to 3:30pm on 10/11
• Cermak Rd. from Canalport Ave. to Wentworth Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 3:30pm on 10/11
• Wentworth Ave. from Cermak Rd. to 26th St., 6am on 10/11 to 3:45pm on 10/11
• 26th St. from Wentworth Ave. to Michigan Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 3:45pm on 10/11
• Michigan Ave. from 26th St. to 35th St., 6am on 10/11 to 4pm on 10/11
• 35th St. from Michigan Ave. to Indiana Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 4pm on 10/11
• Indiana Ave. from 35th St. to 31st St., 6am on 10/11 to 4:15pm on 10/11
• 31st St. from Indiana Ave. to Michigan Ave., 6am on 10/11 to 4:15pm on 10/11
• Michigan Ave. from 31st St. to Roosevelt Rd., 6am on 10/11 to 4:30pm on 10/11
• Roosevelt Rd. from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr., 6am on 10/11 to 6pm on 10/11
• Columbus Dr. from Roosevelt Rd. to Finish, 6am on 10/8 to 3pm on 10/12

The following streets are expected to remain open:

• DuSable Lake Shore Dr: Northbound and southbound lanes will remain open
• Inner Lake Shore Dr: Northbound and southbound lanes will remain open from Diversey Pkwy to Belmont Ave; access to DuSable Lake Shore Dr will remain open at Belmont Ave
• Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94): Eastbound and westbound lanes will remain open
• Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94): Eastbound and westbound lanes will remain open; the exit ramp at Adams St will be closed
• Eisenhower Expressway (I-290): Eastbound and westbound lanes will remain open
• Stevenson Expressway (I-55): Northbound and southbound lanes will remain open

Other roads along the marathon route will close at various times Saturday and Sunday. Drivers are urged to allow extra time, use alternate routes or take public transportation. DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the expressways will remain open. Metra will offer extra service Sunday.

Chicago Marathon 2026: Start time

The 2026 Chicago Marathon will feature multiple start times for different groups of runners. The men’s wheelchair race is scheduled to begin at 7:20 a.m., followed by the women’s wheelchair race at 7:21 a.m. Wave 1 will start at 7:35 a.m., Wave 2 at 8 a.m. and Wave 3 at 8:35 a.m.

When and where to watch the Chicago Marathon 2026?

Spectators can watch the race for free from streets along the marathon route or cheer on runners at designated viewing areas, including the official cheer zones at miles 13.1, 15 and 26, as well as several community cheer zones.

NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago and TeleXitos are scheduled to broadcast the race live from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. A livestream will also be available through the stations’ websites, apps and Roku and Apple TV channels from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More than 55,000 runners from across the United States and more than 130 countries are expected to participate in the 26.2-mile race, which will pass through 29 Chicago neighbourhoods. More than one million spectators are anticipated along the route.