New York City Marathon 2026: broadcast, course and finish

The New York City Marathon takes place Sunday, November 1, 2026. In the United States, national live coverage runs from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2, while WABC-TV serves the New York market. To follow a particular participant, use the official NYRR app. In person, most of the course is free to watch; finish grandstand seats require tickets, but a nearby standing area is free and subject to capacity limits.

Race start times

The professional men’s wheelchair division starts at 8:00 a.m. ET, followed by the professional women’s wheelchair division at 8:02. The professional women’s open division begins at 8:35, and the men’s open division at 9:05. Five general waves follow between 9:10 and 11:30 a.m.

Times are subject to change. The official NYRR schedule anticipates finishers throughout the day, with a final-finishers celebration scheduled from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Central Park finish line.

How to watch in the United States

The official broadcast guide lists national coverage on ESPN2 from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. ET. A domestic Spanish-language feed will be available on ESPN3 through the ESPN App and ESPN.com during the same window. Access to the ESPN app depends on participating pay-TV providers.

In the New York area, WABC-TV Channel 7 carries the race from 8:00 to 11:30 a.m.; pre-race coverage starts at 7:00, and continued coverage runs until 1:00 p.m. ABC7NY.com plans a finish-line view from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A national ABC program featuring finishers is scheduled from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. ET. Check local listings and provider access before race day.

How to track a runner

The NYRR app will provide live, unofficial tracking and results during the event. Official results will be posted after the race. Treat tracking positions as estimates when arranging an in-person meeting, and select one or two accessible viewing places beforehand rather than relying on rapid cross-city travel.

Fort Wadsworth and the start area admit only registered entrants and guides. Spectators cannot watch from the start, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge or any other bridge on the course.

Where to watch for free

Most of the route from mile 3 through mile 26 is open to spectators. NYRR recommends locations including Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn; Williamsburg and Greenpoint; First Avenue and East Harlem; Fifth Avenue from East 90th to East 105th Street; and Columbus Circle.

The subway is the organizer’s recommended way to move around. Check `mta.info` for service changes. The NYC DOT advisory lists citywide marathon closures for November 1 and warns that event dates, times and routes may change.

Do you need a finish-line ticket?

It depends on the section. The East Side Grandstand, overlooking the final 200 meters, requires a ticket. The standing spectator area inside Central Park, from Columbus Circle to the south end of the grandstands, is free. It sits about 500 feet before the finish; chairs are neither provided nor allowed, and access may be restricted when capacity is reached.

Every entrance requires screening. NYRR’s security guidance recommends arriving without a bag. Strollers, carts and coolers are prohibited in Central Park and Central Park West spectator locations. Recheck official race, MTA and city alerts on Sunday because access, transit and capacity conditions can change.