Berlin and Chicago Marathon 2027 Ballots: Dates, Odds and Why You Should Enter Both
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Published 20 August 2026
Ballot season is nearly upon us. Within the next few weeks, two of the fastest marathons on the planet open their doors for 2027: Berlin, the flat, record-breaking classic through the German capital, and Chicago, its equally rapid American cousin. Their ballots open within a month of each other, close within days of each other, and here's the bit too many runners miss: absolutely nothing stops you entering both.
Better still, these are the two most winnable ballots among the classic Majors. While London breaks hearts at odds of around 1 in 75 and Tokyo sits at 1 in 10, Chicago accepts roughly a quarter of applicants and Berlin around a fifth. If a World Marathon Major is on your list for 2027, this autumn is where your odds are best. Here's everything you need, plus what to do with the months between clicking submit and toeing a start line.
In This Article
Berlin Marathon 2027 Ballot: Key Facts and Dates
The Berlin Marathon takes place on Sunday 26 September 2027. No course in the world has hosted more world records, including Eliud Kipchoge's astonishing runs, and it remains the pancake-flat, time-chasing classic, looping through the city to finish under the Brandenburg Gate. Late September in Berlin usually delivers cool, still conditions, and the time limit is a comfortable 6 hours 15 minutes.
The Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot: based on recent years, expect it to open in late September or early October 2026, shortly after this year's race, and stay open into early November, with results emailed in late November or early December. The entry fee was €205 last cycle, charged only if you're drawn. Odds run at roughly 20%.
Two Berlin quirks worth knowing. First, the team entry: two or three runners can enter the ballot together, and it's all or nothing, so either the whole team gets in or nobody does. If you and your running mates want to share a start line, no other Major offers this. Second, Berlin has qualifying times for fast runners, offering a non-ballot route if you've got serious wheels.
Chicago Marathon 2027 Lottery: Key Facts and Dates
The Chicago Marathon takes place on Sunday 10 October 2027, looping out of Grant Park through 29 neighbourhoods and back, cheered by around 1.7 million spectators. It's barely less rapid than Berlin, with almost no elevation to speak of, cool October conditions and a generous 6 hour 30 minute limit. It has records of its own, too: the current women's world record was set here in 2024, and the late Kelvin Kiptum's barely believable 2:00:35 here stood as the men's record until this spring's London Marathon.
The Chicago Marathon 2027 lottery (officially, the drawing): based on recent years, expect applications to open in late October 2026 and run through to mid November, with results emailed in mid December.
Applying is free; if you're drawn, your card is automatically charged the entry fee, around $250 for US residents and $260 internationally. Odds run at roughly 25%, the friendliest of the classic Major ballots.
Chicago also offers more guaranteed side doors than most: time qualifier entry (around sub 3:05 for men and 3:35 for women, age adjusted), legacy entry for repeat finishers, the Chicago Distance Series, charity places and official tour operators.
One housekeeping note for both races: 2027 windows hadn't been officially confirmed when I wrote this, so the dates above follow the well-established pattern of recent years. Check the official race websites as September arrives, and I'll update this article once dates are confirmed.
Berlin vs Chicago: Which Should You Enter?
Honestly? Both. The ballots cost nothing unless you're drawn, the windows barely overlap with any effort on your part, and entering both roughly doubles your chance of a fast autumn Major in 2027. The races are a fortnight apart, so even the unlikely jackpot of winning both is a nice problem to have: Chicago lets registered runners cancel and bank a guaranteed entry for the following year, and Berlin offers cancellation insurance when you register.
If you genuinely must choose, here's how I'd split it. Choose Berlin for history and atmosphere: the Brandenburg Gate finish, the world-record aura, a European trip without long-haul travel for UK and European runners, and that unique team entry if you're ballot-ing with friends. Choose Chicago for the slightly better odds, the bigger crowds, the extra guaranteed entry routes if the ballot fails you, and, for North American runners, the home-soil convenience. Course-wise there's barely a cigarette paper between them; your personal best doesn't care which one you pick.
What to Do While You Wait: Your Berlin or Chicago Marathon Training Plan
Waiting for a ballot result is one of the worst feelings in running, and I say that as someone whose legs once endured a 24 hour run on a treadmill. You enter full of anticipation that this is your year, forget all about it as the weeks tick by and your running continues, then wake one morning to an Instagram feed full of acceptance and rejection posts, and you know yours is coming. After a hundred or more refreshes of your inbox, there it is. I've been through this with London many times. (And yes, you will see me at London in 2027.)
But whatever the result, there is one constant in my running life: structuring a programme across the year that builds the base, prepares me for a race, and gives me a recovery period before the cycle starts once again. The ballot decides where you race. It never decides whether you train.
And here's the maths that should change how you see this autumn. Results land in November or December. The races are in September and October 2027. That's ten to eleven months of runway, and a 16-week Berlin or Chicago marathon training plan won't start until June 2027. What you do between now and then will quietly decide what kind of race you run.
The trap is doing nothing until the confirmation email, then panicking. This is where I lean on Runna, and for this waiting phase three of its programmes fit beautifully, depending on where you are right now.
Run to Maintain is the ticking-over option: ideal if you're finishing a busy autumn season, or life is full, and you simply want to hold a base level of fitness while the body rests and recovers. It's the programme I'm using myself this autumn between races.
Run Faster is the winter speed project: use the dark months on 5K and 10K pace work, and arrive at next June's marathon build a genuinely quicker runner. Fancy a cheeky bonus target? Chicago's qualifying times offer guaranteed entry for 2028, so a winter of speed work can literally buy your way past future ballots.
Run Further is the endurance builder: gradually extending your long run and weekly volume, perfect if you're newer to distance or stepping up from halves, so the marathon block next summer starts from solid ground rather than scratch.
Whichever fits, the principle is the same one regular readers will recognise: Runna meets you where you are today and builds you up in a measured, sustainable and personalised way, adjusting as it watches how your training actually goes. And when June arrives and it's time for the marathon block itself, the World Marathon Majors programmes are built directly into the app, course profiles included, so your Berlin or Chicago marathon training plan is shaped around the race you'll actually run. Ballot day is out of your hands. The runner who opens that email is entirely in yours.
Start your free Runna trial here and put the waiting months to work.
Berlin and Chicago Ballot FAQ
When does the Berlin Marathon 2027 ballot open?
Based on recent years, expect the ballot to open in late September or early October 2026 and stay open into early November, with results emailed in late November or early December. Confirm exact dates on the official BMW Berlin Marathon website.
When does the Chicago Marathon 2027 drawing open?
Based on recent years, expect applications to open in late October 2026 and close in mid November, with results emailed in mid December. Confirm exact dates on the official Bank of America Chicago Marathon website.
Can I enter both the Berlin and Chicago ballots?
Yes. There's no rule against entering both, the windows overlap, and doing so roughly doubles your chance of an autumn Major in 2027. If you're drawn for both, the races are two weeks apart; Chicago allows registered runners to cancel and bank a guaranteed entry for the following year, and Berlin offers cancellation insurance at registration.
What are the odds for the Berlin and Chicago ballots?
Chicago accepts roughly 25% of applicants and Berlin roughly 20%, making them the two most winnable ballots among the classic World Marathon Majors, far friendlier than Tokyo at around 10% or London at under 2%.
How much do the Berlin and Chicago marathons cost to enter?
You pay only if you're drawn. Berlin's fee was €205 last cycle. Chicago's is around $250 for US residents and $260 for international runners, charged automatically when you're selected.
Is Berlin or Chicago the faster marathon course?
There's very little in it. Berlin has hosted more world records than any other course in history; Chicago is almost as flat and is where the current women's world record was set in 2024. Both are outstanding courses for a personal best.
When should I start training for the Berlin or Chicago Marathon 2027?
A 16-week marathon training plan starts in early June 2027 for Berlin (26 September) and mid June for Chicago (10 October). Use the months before then wisely: maintain a base over winter, work on speed or endurance through spring, and begin the marathon block already fit and healthy.
About the Author
Andy Hood is an ultra and endurance runner, testicular cancer survivor and proud Runna ambassador. After cancer knocked him off his feet in 2021, Andy laced his shoes back up and rebuilt his running with Runna's structured, personalised training plans, going on to complete multiple ultra marathons. He now designs bold running challenges to raise awareness of testicular cancer and has raised over £27,000 for cancer and mental health charities. He is the founder of Check Ya Balls gear, menswear that saves lives.
As a Runna ambassador, Andy can offer new users an exclusive two-week free trial. Claim your free trial here or download the app and use promo code ANDY2.
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