New York City Marathon 2026: Course and Where to Watch

The New York City Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday, November 1, marking the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course. The race starts on Staten Island, crosses Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, and finishes in Central Park. For spectators, picking two spots close to subway stations is far more realistic than trying to chase every mile; bridges and parts of the finish area have restrictions.

This guide breaks down the neighborhoods, transportation, and where to stay, and it separates athlete registration, the virtual race, and the experience of cheering from the sidelines.

In this article: tickets and conditions, schedule, how to get there, and where to stay.

Tickets: Prices and Where to Buy

Watching from the streets is free. Grandstand or hospitality areas, when offered, come with their own products. If you want to run, never buy a spot from a third party: entries are personal and depend on official programs. Operator packages must be listed by NYRR. The virtual race has different modalities with distinct prices and benefits; read whether or not it guarantees future entry before you pay.

What’s Confirmed

The TCS New York City Marathon brings together elite runners, qualifiers, lottery entrants, charity runners, and other NYRR programs. The traditional course starts on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and reaches Central Park after 42.195 km. Wave starts fill the morning, and street closures disrupt buses and cars. To watch, the subway is essential. The virtual edition runs from October 24 to November 1, but it doesn’t automatically replace a spot in the in-person race; each modality has its own rules.

How to Get There

Build an itinerary around the subway and no more than two spots. Brooklyn offers long, lively stretches; Queens lets you connect to Manhattan; First Avenue welcomes athletes before the Bronx; Central Park concentrates the finish and the closures. Skip cars and surface buses. Load an offline map, check for closed stations, and agree on a meeting point far from the final funnel.

How to Turn the Event into a Trip

Central Park, Brooklyn, and the neighborhoods along the course can be visited on other days. On race morning, attractions and restaurants near closed roads operate differently.

Free New York City walking tour

Central Park tour

Planning Without Surprises

In New York, the best hotel is the one near the subway line that takes you to your cheering spot. Before booking, check how to get to Brooklyn or First Avenue without a long transfer. On the morning of November 1, closed streets snarl buses and cars. Book your return flight for after race Sunday.

Itinerary and Realistic Budget

Watching from the streets is free, so your budget centers on hotel, airfare, and subway fare. Long Island City and Brooklyn can lower your nightly rate without losing access to the course. If you’re running, add registration and package costs, which are only worth it if they come from official programs or an operator listed by NYRR. Save Central Park and the course neighborhoods for the days before or after the race.

See activities in New York on GetYourGuide ›

Sources and Updates

The date and context for the 2026 edition were verified on August 20, 2026, on New York Road Runners’ channels. Wave times, the final map, and subway changes should be reviewed in the official guide closest to race day.

Where to Stay

Manhattan makes arrival and sightseeing easy but costs more; Long Island City and Brooklyn offer subway access and can lower prices. Runners should prioritize official transportation to the start; spectators need to pick the right line for their cheering spots.

🏨Hotels for the event in New York10/31 to 11/02 · free cancellation options onlySee hotels ›

Booking.com partner (advertising): we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Where to stay in New York

Plan your trip to New YorkIn the order it pays to book · Voyage partners

1. HotelAs soon as you have datesCompare neighbourhoods and guest ratings.See hotels ↑
2. More activitiesTo compareTickets, day trips and tours with flexible cancellation.GetYourGuide ›

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the New York City Marathon 2026?

Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Where does it start and finish?

It starts on Staten Island and finishes in Central Park.

Do you have to pay to watch?

Most of the course can be watched for free from the streets.

What transportation should I use?

Take the subway and pick a few spots; buses and cars struggle with the closures.

Where should I watch?

Brooklyn, First Avenue, and stretches before Central Park are popular, subject to the official map.