The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1, bringing nearly 60,000 runners through all five boroughs before the finish in Central Park. This year’s race has an extra layer of history: it marks the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course first used in 1976.
There is also a change runners should know about. For the first time in 15 years, part of the marathon route has been adjusted, with a more direct section through the Bronx between miles 20 and 21. Here are the confirmed start times, waves, course details, elite runners and essential race-week information for NYC Marathon 2026.
What time does the NYC Marathon start in 2026?
The mass-participation field starts in five waves from 9:10 a.m. ET. Each wave has its own corral opening and closing times.
| Wave | Corrals open | Corrals close | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave 1 | 8:10 a.m. | 8:45 a.m. | 9:10 a.m. |
| Wave 2 | 9:05 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. |
| Wave 3 | 9:45 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | 10:20 a.m. |
| Wave 4 | 10:25 a.m. | 10:40 a.m. | 10:55 a.m. |
| Wave 5 | 11:00 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. |
NYRR uses three start colors – blue, orange and pink – with six corrals in each wave. A runner’s official bib shows the assigned wave, color and corral.
NYRR says individual wave and corral assignments will be confirmed in mid-October. The published start times are still subject to change.
NYC Marathon 2026 course: what has changed?
The New York City Marathon remains a 26.2-mile journey through all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island and finishing in Central Park.
But 2026 brings the first course adjustment in 15 years. The change comes in the Bronx between miles 20 and 21. Instead of the previous short loop around East 140th Street, runners take a more direct route via Alexander Avenue, East 141st Street, Third Avenue and East 138th Street before heading toward the Madison Avenue Bridge.
The adjustment was developed during the course recertification process to reduce disruption for the Mott Haven community, where the previous route affected access to local businesses. The overall marathon distance remains unchanged.
The timing of the change is notable. The 2026 race celebrates 50 years since the marathon expanded beyond Central Park in 1976 and adopted the five-borough format that defines the event today.
Water, gels and timing points
Official fluid stations provide water and Gatorade Endurance from mile 3 through mile 25, with the exception of miles 5, 7 and 9. Maurten gels are scheduled at miles 12 and 18.
Timing mats are positioned at the start, every 5K, halfway, mile 20 and the finish. Course clocks correspond to Wave 1, so runners in later waves should use their own net time rather than the clocks to judge their race.
NYC Marathon 2026 elite field
The professional field combines defending champions with several of the world’s leading marathon runners. NYRR says the lineup includes 40 Olympians and Paralympians, 25 global championship medalists and 22 national record holders.
The women’s race is particularly deep. Obiri faces three-time Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, 2024 NYC champion Sheila Chepkirui and several other sub-2:20 marathoners.
Weini Kelati makes her marathon debut
One of the most interesting storylines for the home crowd is Weini Kelati’s marathon debut. The American half-marathon record holder, Olympian and five-time national champion will race 26.2 miles for the first time in New York.
The American field also includes names such as Conner Mantz, Joe Klecker and Jess McClain. Germany is represented in the women’s professional field by Fabienne Königstein, whose listed marathon best is 2:22:17.
Getting to the start on Staten Island
Race morning in New York requires more planning than simply getting to a start line. The start village is at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, and NYRR strongly recommends using its official transportation.
The transportation-selection deadline was September 8. Runners who missed it can be assigned transportation at the Expo, but NYRR warns that options will be limited.
Private vehicles are discouraged. There is no parking at the start, road closures make access difficult, and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge closes to general traffic at 7:00 a.m.
NYC Marathon Expo and bib pickup
Every runner must collect their race materials in person at the TCS New York City Marathon Expo at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. A photo ID and runner confirmation form are required.
| Date | Expo hours | Bib pickup closes |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, Oct. 31 | 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
Runners also need to select an Expo pickup time in their NYRR dashboard. The Javits Center is at 11th Avenue between West 35th and West 36th Streets; the closest subway station is 34th Street–Hudson Yards on the 7 line.
Bag check: the race-morning rule runners need to know
There is no bag check at the Staten Island start for transport to the finish. This is an easy detail to miss and one worth planning for before race morning.
Anything carried into the start village therefore needs to comply with NYRR’s permitted-items rules. Runners should not arrive expecting to hand over a normal race bag on Staten Island.
Watching and tracking the NYC Marathon
Most of the course from mile 3 through mile 26 is open to spectators, and watching from the street is generally free. There is no spectator viewing at the start or on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
For spectators trying to see the same runner more than once, the subway is generally more useful than trying to move along the course at street level. NYRR recommends checking MTA service information before traveling.
The official NYRR app provides real-time runner tracking on race day. Spectators can use the map to follow a runner’s progress and plan where to watch next.
How to watch the NYC Marathon 2026 on TV and online
NYRR has already published the main broadcast plan for November 1.
A finish-line stream on ABC7NY.com is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. NYRR also lists a national ABC program from 3:00–5:00 p.m. ET focused on celebrities and mass-participation finishers.
What makes the 2026 NYC Marathon different?
The essentials of the New York City Marathon remain unchanged: 26.2 miles, five boroughs, the Verrazzano start and a Central Park finish. But 2026 is more than another annual edition.
The race marks 50 years of the five-borough course, while the Bronx adjustment represents its first route change in 15 years. Nearly 60,000 participants are expected, following a then-world-record 59,219 finishers in 2025.
There is also substantial sporting interest: defending champions Benson Kipruto and Hellen Obiri return, Sifan Hassan joins a deep women’s field, and Weini Kelati makes her marathon debut.
For runners, however, the most important details are practical: know your assigned transportation, check your wave and corral when they are released in October, collect your own bib at the Expo and remember that there is no race-morning bag transport from Staten Island.
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