The New York City Marathon returns to the five boroughs this Sunday, November 1, marking the 50th anniversary of the race. Adding to this year’s significance is a route change for the first time in 15 years, sending tens of thousands of runners along a slightly different path through the Bronx. Ahead, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event, from start times and road closures to route information, the best spots to watch, and celebrity participants.
The route
The marathon traditionally begins on Staten Island, where runners cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn. Participants then travel through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Park Slope, Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, and Williamsburg before crossing the Pulaski Bridge into Long Island City, Queens. Around miles 15 and 16, runners cross the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, heading north along First Avenue before crossing the Willis Avenue Bridge into the Bronx.
Until this year, runners traveled up Morris Avenue, turned left onto East 140th Street near a supermarket parking lot, and then turned left onto Rider Avenue. However, the route cut off residents of the Patterson Houses, located across Morris Avenue, from the supermarket and other local businesses.
In response to residents’ concerns, the Bronx portion of the route has been altered, marking the first change to the marathon’s course in 15 years. This year, runners will continue along Alexander Avenue past 138th Street, where the route previously turned left.
They will continue to 141st Street, turn left onto Third Avenue, and then turn right onto 138th Street before crossing the Madison Avenue Bridge back into Manhattan. Runners will then head south along Fifth Avenue before crossing the finish line in Central Park.
Start times
Runners begin the marathon in waves, with each group starting at a different time. The professional men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions start at 8 a.m. and 8:02 a.m., respectively, followed by the handcycle division and select athletes with disabilities at 8:22 a.m. The professional women’s open division starts at 8:35 a.m., followed by the professional men’s open division at 9:05 a.m. The remaining waves begin at the following times:
- Wave 1: 9:10 a.m.
- Wave 2: 9:45 a.m.
- Wave 3: 10:20 a.m.
- Wave 4: 10:55 a.m.
- Wave 5: 11:30 a.m.
Best spots to watch
As the marathon winds through all five boroughs, spectators have plenty of opportunities to cheer on the runners. Much of the course is open to the public, with some of the best viewing spots including:
- Miles 2-6: Along Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn
- Mile 8: Along Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene
- Mile 13: The Queens side of the Pulaski Bridge
- Miles 16-18: Along First Avenue on the Upper East Side
- Miles 19-20: The official Charity Cheer Zone at Fifth Avenue and 120th Street in East Harlem
- Miles 22-24: Along Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue
- Miles 25-26.2: The finish line in Central Park, where spectators with tickets to the official finish-line grandstand can watch runners cross the finish line.
Road closures
One of the few drawbacks of the annual spectacle is the road closures needed to make way for the runners. Drivers should expect closures in all five boroughs for much of Sunday, with some beginning on Saturday, October 31. A full list of street closures can be found here.
How to watch from home
For those who want to watch the race without the crowds, WABC-TV, Channel 7, will broadcast the marathon locally from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with pre-race coverage beginning at 7 a.m. Coverage will continue until 1 p.m., while ABC7NY.com will stream views of the finish line from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A Spanish-language broadcast will air on ESPN3 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
A two-hour show from the finish line will also air nationally on ABC from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., featuring celebrities and thousands of runners as they cross the finish line.
Celebrity runners
Joining the tens of thousands of professional athletes and everyday runners are many high-profile names from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and media. This year’s celebrity participants include Academy Award-winning actor Jennifer Connelly, Tony Award winner Patina Miller, Broadway star Erika Henningsen, and singer-songwriter Joshua Bassett, among others.
A full list of celebrity participants can be found here.
RELATED:
- Mamdani is giving away 350 tickets to NYC Marathon finish line
- NYC Marathon will change its route for first time in 15 years
- MTA wants NYC Marathon to pay $750K for Verrazzano Bridge tolls
The post Everything you need to know about the 2026 NYC Marathon first appeared on 6sqft.
