NYC Marathon 2026 route map showing the five boroughs and race path

October 29, 2026

When Is the NYC Marathon 2026? Start Time, Route & Road Closures

Quick Answer

Planning to follow or participate in the NYC Marathon 2026? As one of the world’s most iconic running events, the NYC Marathon 2026 brings together nearly 60,000 runners to traverse all five boroughs of New York City in a legendary 26.2-mile journey.

Date: Sunday, 1 November 2026.

Start time: 8:00 a.m. ET for wheelchair racers; 9:10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for everyday runners.

Route: 26.2 miles through all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island and finishing in Central Park.

Road closures: Bridges and main roads shut from early morning until the evening. The subway stays open.

The NYC Marathon is one of the largest running events in the world! Almost 60,000 runners complete the 26.2-mile distance across all 5 boroughs of NYC. Whether you are a participant, supporting a runner or just trying to get around the city, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 marathon in simple words.

When Is the NYC Marathon 2026?

The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon will take place on Sunday 1st November 2026. The event will mark the 55th edition of the race and also 50 years since the first time all five boroughs were included in the course. There are around 60,000 runners taking part this year which makes it one of the largest marathons in the world.

What Time Does the NYC Marathon Start?

The race doesn’t start all at once. Runners set off in waves, so the roads stay safer and less crowded. Here’s the full start time list for race day, in New York time (ET):

Time (ET)	Who Starts
8:00 a.m.	Professional men’s wheelchair race
8:02 a.m.	Professional women’s wheelchair race
8:22 a.m.	Handcycles and athletes with disabilities
8:35 a.m.	Professional women’s open division
9:05 a.m.	Professional men’s open division
9:10 a.m.	Wave 1 (everyday runners)
9:45 a.m.	Wave 2
10:20 a.m.	Wave 3
10:55 a.m.	Wave 4
11:30 a.m.	Wave 5 (last group)

Tip: your own start time depends on your bib number and corral. A runner in Wave 3 might not actually cross the start line until five or ten minutes after the wave officially begins, so don’t panic if you’re not moving right at 10:20 a.m.

The NYC Marathon Route: Borough by Borough

The course covers 26.2 miles and touches every borough in New York City. Here’s the simple, easy-to-follow version:

Staten Island: The race begins at Fort Wadsworth, near the foot of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Brooklyn: Runners cross the bridge into Brooklyn and travel through neighbourhoods such as Bay Ridge, Park Slope and Williamsburg. This stretch usually has the loudest crowds.
Queens: A short but lively section through Long Island City.
The Bronx: In 2026, the route through the Bronx has changed for the first time in 15 years. After crossing the Willis Avenue Bridge, runners now turn onto East 135th Street and Alexander Avenue, then East 141st Street, Third Avenue and East 138th Street, before crossing back into Manhattan over the Madison Avenue Bridge.
Manhattan: Runners head up First Avenue, loop through Harlem, and finish with a run through Central Park, ending near Tavern on the Green.

This new Bronx route cuts out two sharp turns that used to slow runners down, and it was designed to ease traffic problems for people who live there.

NYC Marathon 2026 Road and Bridge Closures

If you’re driving in New York on marathon Sunday, plan ahead. Several major bridges and roads close for most of the day. Here’s a simple breakdown of the main bridge closures:

Bridge	Closed (Sunday)
Verrazzano-Narrows	Upper level from 11 p.m. Sat; lower level 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
Pulaski (Brooklyn–Queens)	7 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Ed Koch Queensboro	Lower level 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; upper level open to cars, closed to lorries
Willis Avenue	Closed for most of the day
Madison Avenue	Closed for most of the day

Closures by Borough

Staten Island: Streets around Fort Wadsworth, Bay Street and nearby expressway ramps close from as early as 3–5 a.m.
Brooklyn: Fourth Avenue and Bedford Avenue close from around 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Manhattan: First Avenue closes from 59th Street to the Willis Avenue Bridge from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Central Park’s transverse roads at 65th, 79th and 96th Streets are closed for most of the day too.

Bronx: Alexander Avenue, East 141st Street, Third Avenue and East 138th Street all closed.

These are not all closed at the same time, but will be closed as the runners run through them. This means that after the last group of runners have gone through, the road may well have been opened again. The times can sometimes change at short notice, so if you need to drive somewhere on the night before, check with an official source.

Getting Around on Marathon Day

Use the subways to travel around. The marathon route will not affect the subway, so getting around will be much easier. If you want to see runners at multiple points, start on Fourth Avenue (Brooklyn) and then catch the train to see them on First Avenue (Manhattan). Most runners will take 1 hour and 30 minutes or longer to complete this distance giving you ample time to change trains.

Avoid driving unless you need to reach an airport. If you do need to drive somewhere, most of the routes are clear as they use either the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge or Queens-Midtown Tunnel.

How to Watch the NYC Marathon 2026

Coverage of the live TV broadcast typically occurs on local and ESPN channels from 8:00am to 11:30am ET. However, there will also be pre-race coverage. Not based in New York? Check your local sports broadcaster or streaming service to see if they are showing it. It is watched globally!