Boston moves to six waves
The 130th Boston Marathon will use a six‑wave start this year — up from four — with bib assignments and wave times released to ease start‑line crowding and improve safety for runners and spectators Runner’s World, WCVB. Race organizers say the new format should provide a smoother flow at the start and on the course for the larger field expected in 2026 Runner’s World.
The B.A.A. announced) on March 16, 2026 that bib numbers, corral placements and individual start‑time assignments are now available for the 130th Boston Marathon, to be run on Patriots’ Day, April 20, 2026. Organizers confirmed the overall field remains capped at 30,000 participants and that the new start structure will place between 3,200 and 7,100 athletes in each group, versus roughly 7,500 per group in recent years. (baa.org) Seeding for those start groups will be based on qualifying times and projected finish time, and the B.A.A. says athletes from more than 130 countries and all 50 U.S. states are entered for 2026. (baa.org) The B.A.A. described having worked with crowd scientists to model athlete density, and Chief of Operations Lauren Proshan said the revised procedure is aimed at creating a continuous flow from gear check and bus loading through the 26.2‑mile course. (baa.org) Race‑day timing in the release specifies that all athletes are anticipated to be across the starting line before 11:30 a.m., and that the finish line will close at 5:30 p.m., matching the same course‑time window used in 2025. (baa.org) The logistics notice also lays out two approaches to the Hopkinton start—corrals 1–4 will exit Athletes’ Village via Maple and Church streets while corrals 5–8 will use Grove and Main streets—changes the B.A.A. links directly to bus‑loading and Athletes’ Village flow. (baa.org)
