TCS New York City Marathon
November 1, 2026
Dates confirmed on the official site on August 27, 2026 · nyrr.org
What it is
The TCS New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world, with more than 50,000 runners on a 26.2 mile course that starts on Staten Island, crosses the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn, threads Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx and finishes inside Central Park. Watching is free from almost the entire course. The five borough route debuted in 1976, which makes the 2026 edition its fiftieth running.
What to expect
Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn is the loudest and easiest stretch to reach, First Avenue in Manhattan is the most dramatic and the most crowded, and the last mile inside the park is the hardest place to find room. The bridges are closed to spectators. Crossing the course on foot is only possible at marshalled points, so pick one side of the city for the day and stay on it.
Getting there
Brooklyn spectating: the R to 53rd Street or Bay Ridge Avenue puts you on Fourth Avenue near mile 5. Manhattan: the 4, 5, 6 to 68th or 77th Street for First Avenue, or the B and C to 72nd Street for the park finish. Dozens of streets close and several bus routes are suspended, so plan on walking the last stretch whatever you do.
Best tours and tickets
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Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour with Reserved Ferry Entry
All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory
The story behind it
New York City Marathon: A 26-Mile Block Party From the Verrazzano Bridge to Central Park
The TCS New York City Marathon turns all five boroughs into one 26.2-mile block party, and the highest point of the course is the very first bridge.
Frequently asked questions
Can you watch the New York marathon for free?
Where is the best place to watch?
How do you enter the race?
Does the subway run normally on marathon Sunday?
Sources: nyrr.org
