Supertri Chicago Triathlon

Chicago's lakefront triathlon weekend is now branded Supertri Chicago: paid race registration for Kids, SuperSprint, Sprint, Olympic, and Triple Challenge distances, with free spectating along Foster Beach, Monroe Harbor, Lake Shore Drive, and Grant Park.

  • Dates: August 22–23, 2026
  • Where: Grant Park & Monroe Harbor (downtown lakefront); Saturday races at Foster Beach
  • Neighborhood: Loop / Lakefront
  • Cost: Free

Schedule

  1. Aug 22 — Saturday — Foster Beach: Kids Jr. (ages 7–10) 7:00 AM · Kids Sr. (11–14) 8:00 AM · SuperSprint and Triple Challenge 10:00 AM. All Saturday swims start at Foster Beach (5200 N. Lake Shore Dr.).
  2. Aug 23 — Sunday — Monroe Harbor (downtown): Olympic 6:00 AM · Sprint 8:00 AM. Swim out of Monroe Harbor (700 S. Lake Shore Dr.), bike a closed Lake Shore Drive, and finish downtown on Columbus Drive.

What to expect

One of the country's largest triathlons, August 22–23, 2026. Saturday August 22: SuperSprint and Kids Tri at Foster Beach. Sunday August 23: Sprint and Olympic distances downtown — Lake Michigan swim out of Monroe Harbor, bike on Lake Shore Drive/Lower Wacker/CTA busway, run on Grant Park paths. Thousands of athletes plus a big spectator crowd along the route; the downtown course shuts down LSD for the morning.

Tickets

Free to spectate; paid to race. Race registration is sold through Supertri/Active and prices change by distance, relay, corporate challenge, and timing. Use the official Supertri registration link for current pricing and transfer rules.

Transit

For spectators: Red/Brown/Orange/Green/Pink/Purple Line to any Loop stop, then walk into Grant Park. The 146 Inner Drive bus serves Museum Campus. Lakefront Trail is the run course — closed during race hours. Don't drive: LSD is closed downtown 5–11 a.m. Sunday; expect heavy reroutes.

Bag policy

Athletes: standard race-day bag policy with gear-check via official bag system. Spectators: no formal check at viewing areas. No outside coolers in athlete-only zones.

Family-friendly

Spectator-friendly for kids — the Kids Tri at Foster Beach Saturday is genuinely kid-centric (ages 7–14, short distances). Sunday's downtown spectating works with strollers along the Lakefront Trail (give yourself space east of the run course). Family transition-area access for racers' kids requires a wristband at registration.

History

The Chicago Triathlon — billed as North America's largest and most inclusive triathlon — reached its 42nd annual edition in 2025, drawing thousands of athletes across kids, sprint, Olympic, and multi-race formats on a course that swims in Lake Michigan, bikes a closed Lake Shore Drive, and runs the downtown lakefront. Long produced by Life Time under the "Transamerica Chicago Triathlon" title sponsorship (Transamerica came on in 2014), the race was acquired by Super League Triathlon (Supertri) in 2023 and now runs as "Supertri Chicago."

Local tips

  1. Spectating is free — the Sunday downtown finish on Columbus Drive in Grant Park is the best vantage, with athletes streaming in past Buckingham Fountain and the Museum Campus under the skyline.
  2. Saturday's SuperSprint and Kids races are up north at Foster Beach (5200 N.) — a calmer, family-friendly spot well away from the downtown crowds.
  3. Lake Shore Drive closes for the race morning, so walk or take the CTA — driving anywhere near the lakefront on Sunday is a non-starter.

Frequently asked questions

When and where is Supertri Chicago 2026?

Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026 on the Chicago lakefront. Saturday's Kids and SuperSprint races start at Foster Beach (5200 N. Lake Shore Dr.); Sunday's Sprint and Olympic races swim out of Monroe Harbor (700 S. Lake Shore Dr.) and finish downtown on Columbus Drive.

What race distances are offered?

Six formats. Saturday: Kids Jr. (100m swim / 2.2mi bike / 0.62mi run), Kids Sr. (200m / 4.4mi / 1.24mi), SuperSprint (400m / 6.2mi / 1.5mi), and the Triple Challenge (1.63mi / 46.3mi / 10.85mi). Sunday: Sprint (0.47mi / 15mi / 3.1mi) and Olympic (1.5km / 40km / 10km). Relay teams are available, and the SuperSprint has a Divvy bike-share wave.

Is it free to watch?

Yes — spectating is free; only racing requires registration. The downtown finish on Columbus Drive in Grant Park draws the biggest crowds, with skyline and lakefront views.

What is the course like?

A Lake Michigan swim, a bike leg on a closed Lake Shore Drive that dips through Lower Wacker Drive (the "bat cave") and returns via the McCormick Place busway, and a run past Buckingham Fountain, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and Soldier Field before the Columbus Drive finish.

How do I get there, and what about road closures?

Take the CTA — Lake Shore Drive and several downtown streets close for the race on Sunday morning, so driving near the lakefront is impractical. The Red Line and downtown buses put you within a short walk of Grant Park. The city publishes exact street-closure maps in the days before the race.

How do I register, and what does it cost?

Register at supertri.com/chicago or Active.com. Entry is tier-priced by distance and rises as race day nears (the SuperSprint is the most affordable, the Olympic the priciest), with relay and team options. Check the official site for current pricing.

Official festival information