The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is underway in New York City on Sunday, November 1, as professional wheelchair athletes, elite runners and thousands of participants take on the 26.2-mile course through all five boroughs.
The race began at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, with the professional wheelchair divisions starting first, followed by handcycle and select athletes with disabilities.
The professional women’s race was scheduled for 8:35 a.m. local time, while the professional men’s race was scheduled for 9:05 a.m.
At the newsroom update time of 10:00 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, the elite competitions are in progress and the general field is continuing to leave Staten Island in staggered waves.
Table of Contents
NYC Marathon 2026 schedule
The remaining mass-participation field is divided into five waves to manage the flow of runners onto the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and the course beyond it.
| Race group | Scheduled start |
|---|---|
| Professional men’s wheelchair | 8:00 a.m. |
| Professional women’s wheelchair | 8:02 a.m. |
| Handcycles and select athletes with disabilities | 8:22 a.m. |
| Professional women | 8:35 a.m. |
| Professional men | 9:05 a.m. |
| 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. |
NYRR says the published start times are subject to change, and runners are instructed to follow race-day announcements and their assigned corral information.
Who is racing in New York?
The professional field includes defending champions in the men’s open, women’s open and men’s wheelchair divisions, along with former champions, Olympians, Paralympians and national record holders.
Hellen Obiri returned to defend her women’s title after setting the course record in 2025 with a time of 2:19:51.
Sheila Chepkirui, a former champion, is also part of the women’s field, while Weini Kelati is making her marathon debut.
In the men’s race, defending champion Benson Kipruto is joined by former winners Geoffrey Kamworor and Abdi Nageeye.
The American contingent includes Conner Mantz, Zouhair Talbi and Joel Reichow, while Sweden’s Andreas Almgren is among the athletes making his marathon debut.
The wheelchair races also feature several major names.
Marcel Hug is defending the men’s title, while Catherine Debrunner, Tatyana McFadden and Madison de Rozario headline the women’s division.
Daniel Romanchuk and David Weir are among the former men’s champions in the field.
A five-borough course
The NYC Marathon begins on Staten Island before crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn.
Runners then move through Queens, cross into Manhattan, pass through the Bronx and return to Manhattan for the finish in Central Park.
The route presents a series of demanding sections rather than one sustained climb.
Early bridge crossings, long stretches through Brooklyn and Queens, the return over the Madison Avenue Bridge and the final hills in Central Park all test runners at different points of the race.
For spectators, the race is also a major transportation and street-closure event.
NYRR advised participants to arrive early, while its race-day schedule lists the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge closing to vehicles at 6:45 a.m. local time.
How to follow the NYC Marathon
NYRR is providing live, unofficial runner tracking through its official app during the event.
The organizer says official results will be posted through its results website after the race concludes.
The 2026 race is also being broadcast nationally in the United States on ESPN2, with local coverage in the New York area on ABC7/WABC-TV.
NYRR said the broadcast is available across more than 160 countries and territories.
Finishers are expected to continue reaching Central Park throughout the afternoon.
NYRR has scheduled a final-finishers celebration at the finish line from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Sunday evening.
Results, winning times and the final standings will be added once the professional and mass-participation races are complete and the organizer posts its official results.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 NYC Marathon?
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon is being held on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in New York City.
What time did the 2026 NYC Marathon start?
The first professional wheelchair race was scheduled for 8:00 a.m. Eastern time. The professional women started at 8:35 a.m., the professional men at 9:05 a.m., and the mass waves began at 9:10 a.m.
Where does the NYC Marathon start and finish?
The race starts at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island and finishes in Central Park in Manhattan.
How can I track a runner in the NYC Marathon?
NYRR provides live, unofficial runner tracking through its official app during the race. Official results are posted through the NYRR results website after the event.
Who are the defending 2026 NYC Marathon champions?
Benson Kipruto is defending the men’s open title, Hellen Obiri is defending the women’s open title and Marcel Hug is defending the men’s wheelchair title.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, start times, course details, athlete information and tracking guidance were checked against New York Road Runners’ official race materials.
Disclaimer: Race times and live standings can change during competition, and final results remain subject to official NYRR confirmation.