Event Details

When: November 1, 2026 (always in early November)

Season: Fall
Travel Difficulty: Moderate – New York is well-connected, but accommodations are expensive and sell out quickly.​​​

Event Website: https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon

Considerations: The NYC Marathon is the largest and one of the most iconic races in the world. Budget extra time for travel logistics, as starting locations are spread across Staten Island.

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Race Profile

Distance: 42.195 km / 26.2 miles

Elevation gain: Elevation gain of 810 ft (247 m) and a descent of 824 ft (251 m). The course starts with a long climb up and over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. 

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging – The bridges, especially the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, add elevation and wind.

Participants: Over 55,000 runners.

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Registration & Lottery Information

• Current registration status: Closed

• Ballot Odds: Low – Estimated acceptance rate is less than 2%

• Ballot Sign-Up: Opens in late January and closes in early February of the same year.

• Charity Entry: Abundant but with high fundraising minimums.​​