Curated event
Boston Marathon 2027: Patriots' Day, the course into Back Bay and where to stay
The Boston Marathon runs on Patriots' Day, Monday, April 19, 2027, from Hopkinton to the finish on Boylston Street in Back Bay. The city treats it as a holiday: Back Bay closes to traffic, hotels near the finish sell out months ahead, and the Red Sox play a morning game at Fenway.
- Dates: April 19, 2027
- Venue: Boylston Street finish line, Back Bay, Boston
- Organised by: Boston Athletic Association
- Admission: Registration required
- Checked: September 11, 2026
Spectators should choose one point on the course and stay there: Wellesley, the Newton hills or Kenmore Square each need a different transit plan. Book Back Bay or a Green Line base as soon as the date is on the calendar, and expect the Monday to be a holiday for the whole city.
Schedule
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Monday, April 19, 2027 | Race day, Patriots' Day: Hopkinton to Boylston Street |
Dates and hours come from the organisers' announcements and can change. Check them once more before setting out.
Official tickets and registration · Entry is by qualifying time or charity place through the Boston Athletic Association; the course is free to watch.
The event
The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and one of the six Majors, organised by the Boston Athletic Association and run every year on Patriots' Day, the state holiday on the third Monday of April. The 2027 race is on Monday, April 19.
Runners start in the town of Hopkinton and finish on Boylston Street in Back Bay. Because the course is point-to-point, spectators cannot see both the start and the finish; the choice of viewing point shapes the whole day.
Where to watch
Back Bay near the finish is the loudest and the most crowded, with the last half-mile down Boylston Street closed to traffic from early morning. Kenmore Square, a mile out, combines the race with the Red Sox's traditional morning game at Fenway Park and empties onto the Green Line.
Further out, the Newton hills and Wellesley are reached on the commuter rail or by car parked well away from the course; the trade is quieter viewing for a longer return to the city.
Logistics for the weekend
Marathon weekend is a long weekend for the city: the expo and the runners' families arrive from Friday, Sunday is the pre-race quiet day, and Monday is a holiday with closed streets and a packed T. Hotels within walking distance of the finish sell out months ahead and carry minimum-stay rules.
If you are running, a Back Bay or Copley base puts the finish and the family meeting area on foot; if you are watching, a Green Line base anywhere on the B, C or D branches reaches Kenmore without a car.
Good to know
- Patriots' Day is a Massachusetts holiday; many offices close and the T runs a holiday pattern with crowded platforms near the course.
- Security around the finish area means bags are checked and some crossings close; plan to stay on one side of Boylston Street.
- Confirm wave start times and the spectator guide on the B.A.A. site in race week.
Where to stay for marathon weekend
Back Bay is the finish-line base; the Green Line branches give cheaper alternatives with a direct ride to Kenmore. These guides compare the bases and open live availability for April dates.
- Where to stay in Boston on a first visitCompare available Boston stays once the base is chosen.
- Where to stay near the Boston Public GardenThe finish-line neighborhood in detail.
- Back Bay vs Seaport vs FenwayFenway is the Kenmore Square option.
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Sources and transparency:Boston Athletic Association: Boston Marathon (2027 date, organiser) (checked 2026-09-11)Not a paid listing.Editorial policyFull agenda