September 2–13, 2027 — Pre-registration for the 2027 Chongqing Marathon is about to open. The race is scheduled for January 10, 2027, and only a full marathon event will be offered.

The key question is whether the direct-entry qualification for mass/recreational runners has changed compared with 2026.

According to official documents, the Chongqing Marathon’s direct-entry quotas this year still follow three categories: time-based direct qualification, series-race direct qualification, and sponsor/cooperating-media quotas. The overall rules are the same as the 2026 Chongqing Marathon registration.

Category 1: Time-based direct-entry (10,000 people): after meeting the qualifying time for the corresponding age group, entrants are ranked within their age group by time from fastest to slowest to fill 10,000 spots. The fee is ¥200 per person.

34 and under — full marathon standard: men 3:00 / women 3:20;
35–39 — men 3:10 / women 3:30;
40–44 — men 3:15 / women 3:35;
45–49 — men 3:20 / women 3:40;
50–54 — men 3:30 / women 3:50;
55–59 — men 3:40 / women 4:00;
60–64 — men 3:50 / women 4:20;
65 and above — men 4:00 / women 4:30

Last year, half-marathon results could still be used as material to compete for direct-entry spots. For the 2027 Chongqing Marathon, the “half-marathon direct-entry” option has been removed from registration (except for the Changjiahui Half Marathon mentioned below), which may lower the difficulty of obtaining direct entry and thus provide more opportunities for entrants who have already completed a full marathon.

If total qualifiers exceed 10,000, spots will be allocated proportionally by age group and then ranked.

For example, if the under-34 age group has 1,500 qualifiers and total qualifiers across all age groups number 15,000, that age group’s share is 10% and it would have 500 direct-entry spots, which are then taken from fastest to slowest.

For reference, here is the 2026 Chongqing Marathon direct-entry situation:

Total pre-registrations for the full marathon were 247,123; the number who met the age-group qualifying times and obtained direct-entry qualification was 26,866.

The 10,000 direct-entry spots were finally allocated proportionally by age group, producing an actual direct-entry rate of about 37%.
The remaining 16,866 entrants entered the public lottery.

Among them, in the 34-and-under age group the men’s final actual direct-entry full-marathon time was 2:49:14, half-marathon 1:19:44; the women’s full marathon was 3:03:53, half 1:28:49.

Runners can use this for comparison and reference based on their own circumstances.

Category II: Series race (1,000 spots): the top 500 men and top 500 women at the 2026 Chongqing (长嘉汇) Half Marathon will directly secure entry slots for the 2027 Chongqing Marathon.

Category III: Sponsor and partner media quotas: 2,500 spots.

Next year the Chongqing Marathon clashes with the Xiamen Marathon — which would you choose?

(Image source: Chongqing Marathon official social media)