Info for Athletes

NEW FOR 2026: Registration for the 2026 Boston 5K will be held January 26-29, 2026 within Athletes’ Village featuring a random selection. During this period, anyone may submit a registration application within Athletes’ Village.

A random selection will be held at the close of registration week (Jan. 26-29), and athletes will be informed if they’ve been accepted or not accepted into the Boston 5K. Only those accepted as part of the random selection will pay the entry fee. Duplicate entries will be void and not accepted. Athletes who apply as a group of three or fewer athletes will be considered a single entry in the random selection, and will be accepted or not-accepted as a group.

The Boston 5K sold out in 20 minutes in 2025. In an effort to allow all interested athletes an opportunity to be part of the Boston 5K, a random selection will be offered this year. The field size limit is 10,000 athletes.

Race Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.

Registration Period: January 26 at 10:00 a.m. ET – January 29 at 5:00 p.m. ET

Entry Fee: $70

All accepted athletes will receive an adidas Boston 5K participant shirt plus race day amenities and unicorn finisher medal. Entries are non-transferrable, non-deferrable, and non-refundable

Entrants must be 10 years old on race day to participate in the Boston 5K. The Boston 5K is WPA-approved and eligible for National, Americas, and World Records.

Special Olympics Massachusetts is the official fundraising partner of the Boston 5K. They believe that everyone deserves to be fully included in their community. Through the power of sports, Special Olympics is working to make our lives more inclusive. The funds raised through the Boston 5K will provide opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to compete and train in an inclusive and supportive environment throughout the year and across the commonwealth.

U.S. residents will be mailed their bib number prior to the event. International residents (including Canada) may claim their bib number at the Boston Marathon Expo on Friday, April 17 or on race morning at the Athlete Services Tent near the start area between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on race day.

If you misplace your bib, or it gets damaged, a replacement bib will be issued at the Athlete Services Tent near the start area on race day.

A valid government issued photo ID is required to claim or replace your bib number. Only registered participants may claim their bib number.

The timing and scoring device is affixed to the back of your bib number and should not be removed from the bib. Please wear your bib number on the front of your torso on your outer-most layer.

MBTA: For a complete map and schedule, please visit www.mbta.com. Boylston and Arlington are the closest Green Line stops, while Chinatown is the closest Orange Line station.

PARKING: The B.A.A. recommends that participants park at the Garage at 100 Clarendon in Boston’s Back Bay. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods but is limited.

RIDESHARE: Charles Street will close at 5:00 a.m. and drop-off access near the start line will be blocked. If you plan on being dropped off on race morning, please plan to do so on Tremont Street or Beacon Street.

Gear Check will be available on race day. Specific information for the 2026 event is forthcoming.

Do not check valuables. The B.A.A. is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Athletes can claim their participant shirt on race day after finishing the race. Shirts are not mailed to athletes, and sizes are while supplies last.

The race will start at 8:00 a.m. Athletes will be seeded according to their expected pace-per-mile.  Signs will be positioned near the start area to indicate your start position.

If you are planning to run faster than a 9 minute per mile pace, seed yourself at 7:30 a.m. in Wave 1. If you anticipate running slower than a 9 minute per mile pace, seed yourself at 7:45 a.m. in Wave 2. Signage and announcements will direct you where to go. Please be in the start corral area by 7:45 a.m.

The timing and scoring system will begin recording your time once you cross the starting line.

FLUID STATIONS: Poland Spring® Brand Natural Spring Water will be available on course.

TOILETS: For your convenience, an ample number of portable toilets will be placed near the start/finish area. Participants are requested to respect the surrounding private and public property by using the portable toilets provided.

Medical personnel will be on site for emergency care as well as to attend to critical and non-critical injuries.

MarathonFoto is the official photographer of the Boston 5K. All entrants will receive an email following the race with details regarding the purchase of event photographs.

For safety reasons, strollers, in-line skates, skateboards (and similar vehicles of any kind), and animals are not permitted.

Results will be posted online after the race concludes at www.baa.org, and within the B.A.A. Racing App. An electronic timing system will enable you to receive your net time, which will be your official time.

The timing and scoring tag will be affixed to the back of your bib, and must not be bent, creased, or cracked for you to be scored, timed, and to appear among the results as an official finisher.

To be recognized as an official finisher, you must complete the event within the allotted time of one hour from the time the last participant crosses the start line (approximately 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.). 

Age group winners will be notified after the race regarding their prize.