Chicago marathon 2026 tracking: What time does Chicago marathon start? How to watch Chicago race live streaming?

Chicago Marathon 2026 is taking place today as defending champions Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda and Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia will be challenged by a world-class field in the 48th edition of the iconic sporting event on Sunday. More than 55,000 runners will compete over the 26.2-mile layout winding through the streets of Chicago, where world records have fallen and could be up for grabs if conditions are favorable.

What time does Chicago Marathon 2026 Start?

Chicago Marathon 2026 has multiple segments and each segment has its own start timing. Marathon Wheelchair for men is scheduled to start at 8.20 am (ET), Marathon Wheelchair start for women will begin at 8.21 am (ET), marathon handcycle commences at 8.23 am (ET). Men and women's races and wave 1 is scheduled at 8.30 am (ET).


How to Watch Chicago Marathon 2026 Live?

Chicago Marathon 2026 will be live streamed on NBC Chicago website, NBC 5 and NBC Chicago's YouTube channels. Live telecast broadcast will be available on NBC Chicago's 24/7 channel.

Chicago Marathon Tracking: Athletes to Watch Out

Kiplimo collected his first marathon triumph last year in Chicago in 2hrs 2mins 23secs in only his second start at the distance. He added a podium finish in April at a historic London Marathon in which Kenya's Sabastian Sawe won in a world-record 1:59:30 and Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha was second in 1:59:41, 47 seconds ahead of Kiplimo.

That marked the first time the mythical two-hour barrier was broken. Kiplimoo's 2:00:28 made him the third-fastest in marathon history and the man to beat in Chicago.

Kiplimo won the Lisbon Half-Marathon in March in a world-record 57:20 only for Kejelcha to break that mark with a 56:51 triumph in August at Buenos Aires. Kiplimo, last year's London Marathon runner-up, also won the World Cross Country Championship in January at Tallahassee, Florida.

Kenya's Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London winner who was fourth this year in London at 71 seconds behind Kiplimo, hungers for his first Chicago title after finishing second last year and third in 2024.

Ethiopia's Milkesa Mengesha, the 2024 Berlin Marathon and 2025 Shanghai Marathon champion, makes his Chicago debut with the third-fastest entry time from his 2:03:17 triumph in Germany.

On the women's side, Feysa said she is better positioned to win this year than she was in 2025, when she took the title in 2:14:57.

The biggest title threat, however, might be Kenya's Brigid Kosgei, who won last year's Shanghai Marathon in a course-record 2:16:36 and took this year's Tokyo title in a course-record 2:14:29 -- 3:10 ahead of Feysa. Kosgei -- a two-time winner in London, Tokyo and Chicago -- set a then-world record of 2:14:04 in 2019 when she defended her Chicago title.