United States · World Marathon Major
New York City Marathon 2026
Sunday 1 November 2026 · confirmed date
9 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 1 November 2026
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 09:10
- local time
- Course
- Rolling · Point to point
- Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island to Central Park, near Tavern on the Green
- Course record, men
- 2:04:58
- Tamirat Tola, 2023
- Course record, women
- 2:19:51
- Hellen Obiri, 2025
- Finishers
- 59,226
- in 2025
- First held
- 1970
The race
About the New York City Marathon
The New York City Marathon was first run in 1970 as laps of Central Park and has crossed all five boroughs since 1976. Today it is one of the World Marathon Majors and among the largest marathons anywhere, with 59,226 finishers in 2025, a world record at the time.
The race is known for its crowds, which line almost the entire route, and for the variety of neighbourhoods it passes, from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx to Manhattan. The bridges and the late climb towards Central Park make it a demanding course, so it suits runners who value the experience as much as the time.
Course
The New York City Marathon course
The race starts at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and opens with the climb over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the biggest hill of the day. It then runs north through Brooklyn on long, crowded avenues before crossing the Pulaski Bridge into Queens at about halfway.
At around 24 km the Queensboro Bridge takes runners into Manhattan, where the quiet climb gives way to a wall of noise on First Avenue. The route dips into the Bronx, returns to Manhattan and heads south on Fifth Avenue, with a long gradual rise before entering Central Park. The last kilometres roll through the park to the finish near Tavern on the Green. Save energy for the second half.
Race-day weather
Early November mornings in New York are usually crisp, roughly 7–13°C, and often windy on the bridges; the wait at the start can feel cold.
Train
Training for the New York City Marathon 2027
Under twelve weeks to go is short for a marathon block, so these dates count down to the edition after, on Sunday 7 November 2027.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 24 May 2027 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 21 June 2027 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 19 July 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 16 August 2027 |
For this course
New York's bridges and the long rise up Fifth Avenue make it a course for strength as well as speed. Add hill repeats and rolling long runs in the last eight weeks, including some climbing after 30 km. The wait at the Staten Island start is long, so practise eating breakfast early and staying warm before your long runs. Your build covers late summer and early autumn, and from Europe the time difference is several hours, so arrive a few days early.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the New York City Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Most places are allocated through a non-guaranteed drawing held in spring, with a second-chance drawing for NYRR members. Guaranteed entry is available through the NYRR 9+1 programme, time qualifiers, official charity partners and, for runners who live outside the US, official international tour operators.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by New York Road Runners
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the New York City Marathon 2026?
The New York City Marathon 2026 is on Sunday 1 November 2026. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the New York City Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 19 July 2027, a 20-week plan on 21 June 2027. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
How do I get into the New York City Marathon?
Most runners apply to the non-guaranteed drawing in early spring. Guaranteed entry comes through NYRR's 9+1 programme, time qualifiers, official charity partners and, for runners living outside the US, official international tour operators.
Is the New York City Marathon course hard?
It is more demanding than Berlin or Chicago: five bridges, a long gradual climb on Fifth Avenue late in the race and rolling hills in Central Park.
How many people run the New York City Marathon?
In 2025, 59,226 runners finished, the largest marathon finish ever recorded at the time.
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