Boston Marathon starts six waves
The Boston Marathon on April 20 will start in six waves instead of four this year — a structural change that affects how roughly 30,000 runners are grouped and assigned bib numbers. Organizers say the extra waves aim to smooth logistics and improve runner experience, and athletes can check wave assignments in the B.A.A. Athletes’ Village portal. (bostonherald.com) (marathonhandbook.com)
Bib-number, corral and start-time assignments were released by the B.A.A. on March 16, 2026 for the 130th Boston Marathon. (baa.org) Organizers sized the start groups between about 3,200 and 7,100 athletes per wave, noting prior four-wave years ran roughly 7,500 athletes in each group. (baa.org) Seeding into those groups is determined by qualifying time and projected finish time, with per-wave capacity calculated using estimated paces and finish-time distributions. (baa.org) The B.A.A. said it worked with crowd scientists and that Chief of Operations Lauren Proshan described the change as designed to create a “continuous flow” across gear check, bus loading and the start area. (baa.org) Corrals 1–4 and corrals 5–8 will use different access routes in Hopkinton—Maple Street/Church Street for 1–4 and Grove Street/Main Street for 5–8—affecting how athletes are staged before the start. (baa.org) The B.A.A. confirmed all athletes are expected to be across the starting line before 11:30 a.m., and the finish line in Boston will close at 5:30 p.m. on race day. (baa.org)
