NYC Marathon 2026: Start Waves, Expo, Runner Transport & Spectator Guide
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is now in race-month planning. The race is Sunday, November 1, runners pick up bibs in person at the Javits Center Expo October 29–31, and NYRR currently lists five mass-start waves from 9:10 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. Runner transportation selections are already closed, so participants should follow the mode and departure time assigned through NYRR. NYC DOT has published its October 30–November 1 weekend traffic advisory, and NYC311 now lists 2026 bridge and borough-by-borough closure windows. A separate October 23–November 1 construction embargo is not itself a road-closure timetable. For spectators, the simplest strategy is still to choose one or two course locations with strong subway access rather than trying to chase the race across all five boroughs.
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon runs Sunday, November 1.
The course crosses all five boroughs and finishes in Central Park.
Bib pickup is at the Javits Center and runners must pick up their own materials in person.
Current mass-wave start times are 9:10, 9:45, 10:20, 10:55 and 11:30 a.m.; NYRR says times are subject to change.
The selection window is closed; runners should use their selected mode and NYRR-assigned departure time.
The race ends in Manhattan after crossing Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.
NYC Marathon 2026 at a glance
| Who you are | Plan first | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Runner | Use the official NYRR transportation option selected for the Staten Island start | Treating race morning like a normal trip and missing assigned transport |
| Spectator | Choose one or two realistic viewing areas connected by transit | Trying to cross the course repeatedly or chase the race across too many boroughs |
| Not attending | Check street, bridge and transit restrictions before a time-sensitive trip | Assuming a normal Sunday driving or airport-transfer pattern |
| Visitor staying near course | Keep the day geographically simple and allow extra walking/transit time | Tight reservations on the opposite side of the course |
Race-day operations can change. Use current NYRR, MTA, NYC DOT and NYPD guidance close to November 1, 2026.
The 2026 NYC Marathon is Sunday, November 1
The TCS New York City Marathon covers 26.2 miles from Staten Island through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan before finishing in Central Park.
Race day affects transportation far beyond the finish area, so both runners and non-runners should use current NYRR and MTA information during marathon weekend.
If you have a flight, cruise, hotel move or fixed reservation on November 1, check the course before relying on a car.
The Marathon Expo runs October 29–31 at the Javits Center
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon Expo Presented by New Balance is at the Javits Center on Thursday, October 29, Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31.
Runners must pick up their own race materials in person and bring photo ID plus the runner confirmation form. Another person cannot pick up a bib for you.
Choose your Expo slot in the NYRR dashboard before the October 31 deadline and do not leave bib pickup until race morning.
Bib pickup closes before the Expo itself closes
NYRR lists Expo hours of 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, but bib pickup closes at 7:30 p.m. on those days. Saturday Expo hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with bib pickup closing at 4:30 p.m.
Expo time-slot selection remains available through Saturday, October 31 at 4 p.m. ET.
Use the bib-pickup cutoff, not only the building closing time, when planning an arrival.
NYRR currently lists five mass-start waves
Current wave start times are 9:10 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:20 a.m., 10:55 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. NYRR says these times are subject to change.
Runners receive their wave and corral placement in mid-October. You may move to a later/slower wave or corral, but not to an earlier/faster one.
Wait for the official bib assignment before giving family a precise spectator timeline.
The runner transportation selection window is already closed
NYRR closed transportation and bag-check selections on September 8. Runners who made a selection are expected to use their chosen transportation mode and assigned departure time.
The official options include Staten Island Ferry, Midtown Manhattan bus near the New York Public Library and a New Jersey bus from the Meadowlands area.
If you missed transportation selection, resolve it at the Expo
NYRR says runners who did not select transportation by the deadline can receive a limited assignment at the Expo, but options will be restricted and cannot simply be switched at will.
Do not arrive at a ferry or bus on race morning assuming unused capacity will make it acceptable. NYRR has a transportation non-compliance policy.
The Staten Island Ferry is still a major official start route
NYRR recommends the Staten Island Ferry especially for runners expecting a finish time of four hours or more. The official journey includes the free ferry to St. George followed by buses to Fort Wadsworth.
NYRR estimates about 90 minutes total travel time, so this is a structured race transport plan rather than a normal sightseeing ferry trip.
Only registered runners and guides enter the Fort Wadsworth start area
NYRR says only registered entrants and guides may enter the start villages at Fort Wadsworth. Bibs must be visible for entry.
The only bag allowed into the start area is the official clear start-village bag received at the Expo; there is no start-area bag check that transports a runner’s bag to the finish.
Spectators should choose one or two viewing points
The marathon course is too long and the city too crowded to make a many-stop chase efficient. A strong early or mid-course spot plus one later location is usually more realistic.
Choose by subway access first. Crossing the route and moving between boroughs can take longer than the map suggests on race day.
Do not plan a spectator route that depends on taxis repeatedly crossing the course.
Use live transit and current closure information in race week
Street, bridge and subway operations can change close to marathon weekend. Use current NYRR, NYC and MTA information rather than copying a prior year’s closure table.
This is especially important for airport transfers, hotel moves and any plan that crosses the marathon route by road.
October 31 update: NYC DOT and NYC311 marathon road closures
NYC DOT’s October 30–November 1, 2026 weekend traffic advisory lists the NYC Marathon and Family Reunion for Sunday, November 1, with closures subject to NYPD discretion. NYC311 has also posted date-specific 2026 bridge and borough-by-borough closure windows. Emergency incidents and police decisions can still change access.
NYC DOT separately lists a special-event construction embargo from 12:01 a.m. Friday, October 23 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 1. That embargo restricts certain non-emergency street construction work and permits near the course. Its effective dates do NOT mean that every street along the marathon route is physically closed to ordinary traffic continuously for ten days.
NYC311 lists the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway between the Verrazzano Bridge and 79th Street closed 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; the Queensboro Bridge lower level in both directions 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; the Pulaski Bridge southbound 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; and the Willis Avenue and Madison Avenue bridges 7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. on November 1. These windows concern specific roadways and directions, not necessarily every level or approach of a bridge.
NYC311 advises that Manhattan rolling closures can start as early as 5 a.m. and continue as late as 10:30 p.m.; other boroughs have their own closure windows. For the precise affected block, bridge level or direction, consult the official NYC311 marathon notice, the NYC DOT weekend advisory and NYPD instructions before traveling. You can text NYCMARATHON to 692-692 for official event alerts; Spanish-language alerts use MARATHONESP.
If you must drive, arrange a medical appointment, move hotels or catch a flight November 1, do not plan a route that requires crossing the race corridor. The official 2026 closure tables are available, but live NYPD and MTA updates still take priority.
Saturday, October 31: Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K adds Manhattan street impacts
NYC DOT’s October 30–November 1 weekend advisory lists the 2026 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K separately from Sunday’s marathon. The Saturday, October 31 event can affect traffic in Manhattan before marathon race day, with closures subject to NYPD discretion rather than one guaranteed all-day schedule.
DOT lists East 47th Street between First and Second Avenues, First Avenue between East 50th and East 42nd Streets and East 42nd Street between First and Sixth Avenues in its event footprint. It also lists Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue between 14th and 19th Streets and West 16th, 17th and 18th Streets between Fifth and Seventh Avenues. These are city-listed locations, not verified hours for each individual block.
If you are going to the Javits Center Expo, staying near Midtown East or visiting the finish-line area on Saturday, use subway-first planning and check that morning’s city advisory and NYPD directions. Do not treat these Saturday 5K locations as the full Sunday five-borough marathon closure map.
Saturday Oct 31 has separate 5K traffic impacts; Sunday Nov 1 is the full marathon. Use the current NYC DOT advisory and NYPD guidance for actual block access.
Practical subway-first planning by borough
Staten Island: the runner start is at Fort Wadsworth, with runner-only access restrictions. Spectators should not attempt to watch at the start or on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Private vehicles are especially unreliable in this area on race morning.
Brooklyn: Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge and Sunset Park, the Atlantic Avenue/Flatbush Avenue area, Williamsburg and Greenpoint are familiar viewing corridors. Use the subway to reach your chosen side of the course and avoid assuming an east-west taxi crossing will be available.
Queens: the course passes through Long Island City and the Queensboro Bridge. Spectators cannot watch from the bridges on the course; choose a public sidewalk viewing location well away from bridge approaches.
The Bronx and Manhattan: the route uses the Willis Avenue and Madison Avenue bridge corridor, First Avenue, Fifth Avenue and the Central Park finish area. Cross-town travel may be complicated, and some park entrances may operate differently on race day.
NYRR recommends the MTA for spectators. Actual subway service changes, planned work and real-time alerts belong to the MTA’s live status pages rather than a static race-week article.
October 29 update: Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge closes to traffic on race morning
NYC311 confirms that the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge upper level closes at 11 p.m. Saturday, October 31, for race setup, and that the lower level closes at 7 a.m. Sunday, November 1. Both levels are expected to reopen around 4 p.m. Sunday. ABC7 New York likewise reports the bridge unavailable to ordinary non-emergency traffic from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday.
The current NYC311 2026 notice lists the Staten Island Expressway Bay Street exit as closed from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, and the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway stretch between the Verrazzano Bridge and 79th Street from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Confirm your exact ramp before an airport transfer, cruise departure or other time-sensitive drive.
These bridge times are the latest city/MTA-reported operational window, not a guarantee that every entrance reopens exactly on schedule. Individual streets along the course follow rolling closures under NYPD direction. Use MTA subway and rail service where possible, check the published city weekend traffic advisory, and expect last-minute bus diversions.
Verrazzano: upper level closes Sat Oct 31 at 11 p.m., lower level Sun Nov 1 at 7 a.m.; NYC311 projects reopening about 4 p.m., subject to NYPD changes.
November 1 clocks change: marathon times are New York local time
Daylight saving time ends in New York at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back one hour to 1 a.m. local time. The marathon, runner shuttle appointments, ferry departures and TV schedules follow the local clock after that change.
If you are traveling from another time zone, do not carry over the UTC offset or time difference from Friday and Saturday into Sunday without checking it. Reconfirm the local race-day time in your phone, alarm, transit itinerary and hotel checkout arrangements.
This time change does not alter the published local start-wave times. It changes the time-zone offset, so a manually set clock or an international livestream reminder can otherwise be an hour off.
Nov 1 is the fall-back Sunday in NYC: clocks return to 1 a.m. at 2 a.m. Check alarms and time-zone conversions before an early start.
Where to check the latest November 1 closure times
NYC311’s 2026 marathon notice now specifies planned closures for bridges and streets by borough; NYC DOT also has the October 30–November 1 weekend advisory online. Archived street-closure tables can show another year’s dates, so verify 2026 and check NYPD or Notify NYC updates on race morning.
Construction embargo notices help residents and contractors understand permit suspensions but are not proof that a bridge or road is shut to ordinary motorists at those times. For exact times and affected lanes, use the current NYC311 closure notice, the Mayor’s Office event notice, and NYPD directions, not last year’s route sheet.
Can you cycle or cross the closed marathon course on race day?
NYRR’s official 2026 course guidance explicitly prohibits unsanctioned bicycles and other unauthorized activities anywhere on the marathon course while it is closed to traffic, including setup periods before runners reach that location. NYPD officers may divert anyone who tries to ride the course.
Do not assume that empty-looking pavement means a road or bridge is open to cyclists. Runners, medical vehicles, security teams and race operations may use the route before or after the main field passes.
Pedestrians should follow marked crossings and instructions from NYPD and race marshals. If you need to get from one side of the route to the other, use public transit or an officially designated crossing rather than entering a restricted street or bridge.
For race day, plan your cycling route away from the closed course; check official NYRR and city updates before leaving.
October 30: free NYC Marathon opening ceremony at the finish line
New York Road Runners has announced a free public opening ceremony for Friday, October 30, 2026, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Runners from many countries and local running groups will parade across the marathon finish line in Central Park, with a celebration of the five-borough course and recognition of 2026 NYRR Hall of Fame inductees.
This is a separate race-week event, not the Sunday race itself. NYRR says it is free and open to the public; check its race-week information for any last-minute access or security changes before arriving. The event can be an alternative for supporters who cannot reach the crowded finish area on November 1.
Friday October 30, 4:30–6:30 p.m.; consult NYRR’s current race-week notice for event access and any changes.
Where to watch the 2026 marathon for free: verified NYRR locations
Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, around miles 2–4: NYRR recommends this early-course stretch after runners leave the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The R subway line is listed for access, subject to live service changes.
Fourth Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, approximately mile 8: this is another NYRR-recommended viewing location. The organizer lists the B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4 and 5 subway lines for the general area, but riders must check the MTA before leaving.
Williamsburg and Greenpoint, around miles 10–13: cheering opportunities are available along the public sidewalks leading toward the Pulaski Bridge. NYRR identifies the G, L, M and J lines as nearby access options.
Queens, just beyond the Pulaski Bridge at approximately the halfway point: choose a public sidewalk position on the Queens side. NYRR explicitly says the Pulaski Bridge itself is not open to spectators.
NYRR says spectators can normally watch on most of the course from roughly mile 3 through mile 26. There is NO spectator viewing at the Staten Island start or on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and spectators are not allowed on the other race-course bridges.
Choose one subway-friendly place where you can comfortably stay. Avoid relying on taxis to cross the race route, and leave enough time for station crowds and restricted pedestrian crossings.
Free marathon watch party at the Museum of the City of New York: November 1, 11 a.m.
The Museum of the City of New York confirms a free TCS New York City Marathon Watch Party on Sunday, November 1, 2026, beginning at 11 a.m. Its front terrace is beside the course at Mile 23 on Fifth Avenue, near East 103rd Street. The museum address is 1220 Fifth Avenue.
The museum plans a sign-making table, live race coverage on a TV and partner run-club cheer zones along Fifth Avenue. It also lists a cash bar and complimentary partner drinks while supplies last. Free attendance at the terrace event should not be confused with free admission to the museum galleries or complimentary food and drink for every guest.
This is a good option for people who want to cheer runners near the late section of the course without needing a Central Park finish grandstand seat. Arrival and curbside access may change under race-day crowd controls; check the official event listing and subway status before setting out. The museum advertises a starting time, not a guaranteed end time or a reserved viewing position.
The free watch party starts at 11 a.m. at 1220 Fifth Avenue, near Mile 23. Confirm access before leaving and do not assume an event ticket reserves a place beside the race course.
Central Park finish: free standing area versus paid grandstand
The official NYRR spectator guidance separates paid East Side Grandstand Seating from the standing spectator area inside Central Park near Columbus Circle. Grandstand access requires a ticket; do not assume you can walk into a reserved seat with general admission.
NYRR describes a standing area between Columbus Circle and the south end of the grandstands, roughly 500 feet before the finish line. It has no seats and chairs are not allowed. Entry includes security screening and can be limited by NYPD, NYRR or NYC Parks depending on crowd size.
NYRR says there is no spectator access north of the grandstands inside Central Park. The listed approaches for the standing area are Broadway at West 61st Street and the park path near Heckscher Fields (Kickball Field #3), with screening at the entrances. Recheck the NYRR race-day page because on-site officials may change pedestrian access.
For a simpler and less congested viewing experience, consider an earlier Brooklyn location instead of trying to meet someone at the finish line.
Were 350 free marathon grandstand tickets available?
On October 22, New York City announced a lottery for 350 complimentary grandstand seats overlooking the final 200 meters of the marathon. The city’s official entry window closed on October 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. As of this October 28 update, readers should NOT treat the lottery as open or send a new entry expecting it to be accepted.
Winners were to be notified after the entry deadline; selected entrants could receive up to two tickets. The city said entrants had to be at least 18 years old, although the second ticket could be used by someone of any age.
The lottery was separate from regular paid grandstand seating and from NYRR’s free standing spectators’ area near Columbus Circle. If you missed the lottery, use official NYRR spectator information rather than websites claiming to reopen the drawing.
The official city giveaway closed October 26. Never pay a third party claiming to sell a spot in the finished free-ticket drawing.
How to watch the NYC Marathon live on November 1, 2026
NYRR has confirmed live television and digital coverage for Sunday, November 1. All hours below are New York local time (Eastern Time). Daylight saving time ends that morning, so confirm the time zone if you are watching from outside New York.
In New York, WABC-TV Channel 7 begins pre-race programming at 7:00 a.m. ET. Its live local race telecast runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The ABC 7 New York app also provides local live streaming; availability and programming may vary by device.
ABC7NY.com is also scheduled to show a separate live finish-line view from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. ET. This is useful for families who want to watch recreational runners finish after the professional race coverage ends.
Across the United States, ESPN2 is scheduled to carry the race live from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. ET. ESPN Unlimited carries additional coverage from 7:00–8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., while a Spanish-language live feed runs on ESPN Unlimited 8:00–11:30 a.m. and replays on ESPN Deportes at 8:00 a.m. Monday, November 2. A separate national ABC finish-line program is scheduled from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. ET.
App and television access can depend on location and a participating pay-TV provider. NYC Dayline does not host a race broadcast or guarantee that a stream is free outside the officially stated availability.
For an authorized live stream, use NYRR’s official Watch the Race page to reach current broadcast partners rather than unverified mirror streams.
How to follow a specific runner, listen on radio or watch internationally
The official New York Road Runners app provides live runner tracking, leaderboards, live feeds of all four professional divisions, marathon maps and spectator guidance. Friends and family can follow a participant’s progress, but tracking estimates and arrival times may change.
NYRR’s October 26, 2026 broadcast release confirms radio coverage on 710 WOR AM and 103.5 HD2 beginning at 8:00 a.m. ET, also accessible through the iHeartRadio app. This can be useful when a video feed is unavailable while you are traveling.
For viewers outside the United States, NYRR identifies broadcasters including Eurosport in Europe, Fox Sports in Australia, TSN in Canada, L’Équipe in France, Il Corriere dello Sport in Italy, TV Asahi in Japan, TVE and TV3 in Spain, and SVT in Sweden. International rights and access vary; some territories are still listed as to be determined. Check the official NYRR broadcast list and your broadcaster’s schedule before subscribing or purchasing access.
NYRR also confirms a Final Finishers livestream from 8:00–10:00 p.m. ET on ABC7NY.com and the official New York Road Runners YouTube channel. This is a separate evening stream celebrating runners still completing the course.
All published start and broadcast times refer to Sunday, November 1, 2026 in New York. The city changes from daylight saving to standard time early that morning; a time conversion based on the previous day can be wrong.
Central Park closures October 23–November 2: what visitors need to know
Central Park Conservancy has published specific temporary closures for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. Between Friday, October 23 and Monday, November 2, expect partial or full closures along West Drive between West 67th and West 72nd Streets. Walking and cycling diversions may apply, and some cyclists may be asked to dismount.
The marathon finish-line area around West 67th Street is closed to the general public Friday, October 30 through Monday, November 2. This parkwide access warning is separate from the controlled spectator areas described by NYRR: a race ticket or designated NYRR spectator entry does not mean every nearby park path is open.
Sheep Meadow is closed Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1. On Saturday, October 31, Central Park South, the closed East Drive and the southern loop of the Park Drives are scheduled to remain fully closed until noon.
On race day, Sunday, November 1, all Central Park entrances along Central Park West between West 66th and West 81st Streets will be closed. Additional closures include the West 61st Street public restrooms, Adventure Playground, Tarr-Coyne Tots Playground, Columbus Circle Kiosk, West 72nd Street Kiosk and the entire race footprint inside the park.
These are published marathon-related park restrictions, not proof of the hours that surrounding public roads are closed to vehicles. Conditions and security arrangements can still change. Check Central Park Conservancy alerts on the day of your visit and follow staff and NYPD directions.
If Central Park is your main sightseeing destination November 1, consider another day or a different park. Do not assume every west-side entrance, playground or path is available during the marathon.
October 30–November 2: registered marathon runners can visit Top of the Rock for $26
Rockefeller Center is offering registered 2026 TCS New York City Marathon runners $26 timed-admission tickets to Top of the Rock from Friday, October 30 through Monday, November 2. This is a limited-date runner offer, not a general $26 admission price for all spectators or visitors.
To redeem the offer, runners must present their 2026 marathon bib or proof of race enrollment at the Top of the Rock Box Office on West 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The operator specifies box-office redemption, so do not assume an ordinary online booking automatically receives the marathon price.
Top of the Rock offers skyline views above Midtown, but it is not an authorized substitute for a street-level marathon viewing position or the Central Park finish. Check the official event page for current offer availability and any entry restrictions before making a trip.
Bring your 2026 bib or enrollment confirmation. The $26 offer is for registered runners only, October 30–November 2, at the Top of the Rock Box Office.
2026 NYC Marathon checklist
- Race day — Sunday, Nov 1
- Saturday Oct 31 — Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K has separate Midtown Manhattan street impacts
- Expo and bib pickup — Javits Center, Oct 29–31
- Bring photo ID and runner confirmation form to bib pickup
- Expo slot selection — available through Oct 31 at 4 p.m. ET
- Current mass-wave starts — 9:10, 9:45, 10:20, 10:55 and 11:30 a.m.
- Wave/corral assignment — sent in mid-October
- Runner transportation — use the selected mode and assigned departure time
- Start area — registered runners/guides only
- Spectators — choose one or two subway-friendly locations
- Race week — recheck MTA, NYRR and current street impacts