Chicago Marathon Oct. 11: Street closures, reopening times and race-day schedule

The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon takes place Sunday, Oct. 11, covering 26.2 miles through more than two dozen Chicago neighborhoods. The course begins and ends in Grant Park and travels through downtown and portions of the North, West and South Sides. For residents, runners and spectators, the street schedule is useful well beyond race morning: some closures begin days before the event, and route reopening times extend into Sunday evening.

Balbo Drive between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive was already closed as of Monday and is scheduled to stay closed until the Friday after the marathon. Thursday's additional closures cover Balbo between Michigan Avenue and Columbus; Jackson Drive between Michigan and DuSable Lake Shore Drive; Columbus between Monroe Street and Ida B. Wells Drive; Congress Plaza Drive; Ida B. Wells between Michigan and Columbus; and Columbus between Roosevelt Road and the finish line.

Saturday morning adds three more closures near Grant Park: Columbus from Randolph Street to Monroe, Roosevelt from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and Monroe from Michigan to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. At 4 a.m. Sunday, closures begin on Columbus between McFetridge Drive and Roosevelt, Michigan between Madison Street and Roosevelt, and Roosevelt between Michigan and Columbus.

The remaining listed course closures begin at 6 a.m. Sunday. Reopening times are anticipated, rather than guaranteed. The first segments expected to reopen, at 10:30 a.m., are Columbus from the start line to Grand Avenue and Grand from Columbus to Dearborn Street. Dearborn from Grand to Jackson Boulevard and Jackson from Dearborn to LaSalle Street follow at 11 a.m. LaSalle between Jackson and Stockton Drive is expected to reopen at 11:30 a.m.

Several northern course segments have noon reopening targets: Stockton between LaSalle Drive and Fullerton Drive; Fullerton between Stockton and Cannon Drive; Cannon between Fullerton and Sheridan Road; Sheridan between Diversey Parkway and Belmont Avenue; and Inner Lake Shore Drive between Belmont and Sheridan. At 12:30 p.m., reopening is anticipated for Sheridan between Inner Lake Shore Drive and Broadway, along with Broadway between Sheridan and Briar Place. Broadway from Briar to Diversey and Clark Street from Diversey to Fullerton Parkway follow at 12:45 p.m.

Early-afternoon targets continue southward. Clark from Fullerton to Webster Avenue and Webster from Clark to Sedgwick Street are scheduled for 1 p.m. Sedgwick between Webster and North Avenue follows at 1:15 p.m.; North between Sedgwick and Wells Street and Wells between North and Walton Street at 1:30 p.m.; and Wacker Drive between Wells and Adams Street at 1:45 p.m.

On the western portion of the route, Adams between Wacker and Damen Avenue and Damen between Adams and Jackson have 2 p.m. reopening targets. Jackson from Damen to Halsted Street and Halsted from Jackson to Taylor Street follow at 2:30 p.m. Taylor between Halsted and Loomis Street is expected to reopen at 2:45 p.m., followed by Loomis between Taylor and 18th Street at 3 p.m.

The 3:15 p.m. reopening group includes 18th Street between Loomis and Halsted, Halsted between 18th and 21st streets, and 21st between Halsted and Canalport Avenue. Canalport between 21st and Cermak Road and Cermak between Canalport and Wentworth Avenue have 3:30 p.m. targets. Wentworth from Cermak to 26th Street and 26th between Wentworth and Michigan are expected to reopen at 3:45 p.m.

Farther south, Michigan between 26th and 35th streets and 35th between Michigan and Indiana Avenue have 4 p.m. reopening targets. Indiana between 35th and 31st streets and 31st between Indiana and Michigan follow at 4:15 p.m. Michigan from 31st to Roosevelt is expected to reopen at 4:30 p.m. The listed reopening time for Roosevelt between Michigan and Columbus is 6 p.m., making that segment particularly important for anyone planning an evening trip near the finish area.

For participants, Grant Park, gear check and start corrals open at 5:30 a.m. The men's professional wheelchair race begins at 7:20 a.m., when Wave 1 corrals close. The women's professional wheelchair start follows at 7:21 a.m., then the handcycle start at 7:23 a.m. Professional runners start at 7:30 a.m., the high performance running program at 7:32 a.m., and Wave 1 at 7:35 a.m.

Wave 2 corrals close at 7:45 a.m. for an 8 a.m. start. Wave 3 corrals close at 8:10 a.m., with runners starting at 8:35 a.m. Spectators can enter Grant Park at 9:30 a.m., also the beginning of the 27th Mile Post-Race Party. The party ends and gear check closes at 4 p.m. These separate entry and start times give runners and supporters distinct schedules to use when planning their day.