New York Marathon 2026

The TCS New York City Marathon begins at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, with approximately 50,000 participants running across New York on the first Sunday in November. This road marathon crosses all five boroughs, uniting elite marathoners, club runners, charity participants, and first-time runners on the same start list. New York Road Runners organizes the event as part of its annual schedule of over 60 races, and the marathon’s five-borough course is fundamental to its character. The initial significant landmark is the 3 km Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge crossing into Brooklyn. The route then proceeds through Brooklyn to the Pulaski Bridge, marking the halfway point, and continues into Queens. Runners then cross the Queensboro Bridge, a long ascent, before descending onto First Avenue in Manhattan. The course proceeds north over the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx, returns via the Madison Avenue Bridge, passes through Harlem, and concludes in Central Park near Tavern on the Green. Musicians perform along the course, spectators fill the streets, and finishers frequently receive recognition throughout the city simply for completing the race; runners achieving a time under 4:45, or otherwise distinguishing themselves, might be mentioned in The New York Times.