October 30, 2025 (Wellesley, MA) – The 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America will take place next year on Monday, April 20, 2026. As a member of the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Cities and Towns Program, the Town of Wellesley has a limited number of invitational entries to distribute to local nonprofits and the War Memorial Scholarship Fund. The application period to apply for these entries opens today, Thursday, October 30 and runs through Thursday, November 20, 2025.

The Select Board will designate the organizations and War Memorial Scholarship Fund runners who will receive invitational entries for the 2026 race at its meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Entry recipients will be notified the following day. To be considered for an invitational entry, organizations should complete the 2026 Town of Wellesley Boston Marathon Nonprofit Application found on the Town website. Individual runners seeking an invitational entry are welcome to: (a) complete the 2026 Town of Wellesley Boston Marathon Individual Application (also on the Town website) indicating interest in running for the War Memorial Scholarship Fund; or (b) connect with a nonprofit organization recruiting runners.

Completed applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 20 to be eligible for consideration. Return applications via email to Stephanie Hawkinson (shawkinson@wellesleyma.gov), or deliver them to the Select Board Office, Floor 3, at Wellesley Town Hall. The Select Board adopted the Boston Marathon Invitational Entries policy, reserving a few entries for Wellesley first responders and for Wellesley residents and/or employees fundraising for the War Memorial Scholarship Fund. The remaining entries are allocated to nonprofit organizations significantly contributing to the Town or some population of Town residents. Nonprofits receiving invitational entries are strongly encouraged to recruit Wellesley residents as runners. Each charity must report the actual amount of funds raised through this initiative.

All runners receiving an invitational entry are expected to raise a minimum of $5,000. A credit card number must be provided to demonstrate a commitment to raising this amount.