The Holiday Almanac · NYC Marathon

NYC Marathon 2026: Where to Watch, Mile by Mile

Where to watch the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in all five boroughs: the best spots mile by mile, the subway lines to get there, the new Bronx route, the finish and meeting your runner.

Checked on the organizers’ own pages, October 18, 2026

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The TCS New York City Marathon runs on Sunday, November 1, 2026, the day after Halloween. Nearly 60,000 runners start on Staten Island, cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn, and run through Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx to a finish in Central Park, cheered by more than two million people. Watching is free almost everywhere from mile 3 to the finish.

This year the course changes for the first time in 15 years, with a new route through the Bronx, and it marks fifty years since the race first went through all five boroughs. The wheelchair racers start at 8am, the professional women at 8:35 and the men at 9:05, and the mass waves leave Staten Island between 9:10 and 11:30am. Every spot below comes from NYRR's own spectator guide, checked on October 18, 2026.

Bay Ridge & Sunset Park, BrooklynConfirmed for 2026

Bay Ridge & Sunset Park: Fourth Avenue, miles 2–7

Runners come off the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge onto Fourth Avenue, the first stretch of the course where spectators are allowed. NYRR lists Fourth Avenue as a recommended viewing spot, and the long straight avenue gives you plenty of room early in the day.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Hours: The wheelchair racers start at 8am; the mass waves leave Staten Island between 9:10 and 11:30am
Cost: Free
Where: Fourth Avenue from 92nd Street north
Subway: R to 95 St, 86 St, 77 St, Bay Ridge Av, 59 St, 53 St, 45 St or 36 St

Watch here first, then ride the R north to see your runner again later in the race.

Source: Official site ↗ · On LovelyNYC →

Fort Greene, BrooklynConfirmed for 2026

Downtown Brooklyn & Fort Greene: Flatbush and Lafayette, miles 8–9

NYRR lists Fourth and Flatbush Avenues as a recommended spot. The course then turns onto Lafayette Avenue through Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, under the brownstones, where NYRR's 2026 map shows a members' cheer zone.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: Fourth Avenue at Flatbush Avenue (mile 8), then Lafayette Avenue
Subway: B/D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 to Atlantic Av–Barclays Ctr; C to Lafayette Av

There's a pedestrian crossing zone at Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street if you need to get to the other side.

Source: Official site ↗ · On LovelyNYC →

Williamsburg & Greenpoint, BrooklynConfirmed for 2026

Williamsburg & Greenpoint: Bedford to Manhattan Avenue, miles 10–13

NYRR recommends miles 10 to 13 for sidewalk space along streets lined with cafés and bars, just before the course leaves Brooklyn over the Pulaski Bridge.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: Bedford Avenue, Nassau Avenue and Manhattan Avenue
Subway: L to Bedford Av; G to Classon Av, Nassau Av or Greenpoint Av; J/M to Marcy Av

A pedestrian crossing zone is at Bedford Avenue and Broadway. Brunch spots along Bedford fill early on race morning.

Source: Official site ↗ · On LovelyNYC →

Long Island City, QueensConfirmed for 2026

Long Island City: the halfway point, miles 13.1–15

The Pulaski Bridge marks the halfway point. Spectators aren't allowed on the bridge, so crowds gather on the Queens side before runners head for the Queensboro Bridge, which is also closed to spectators.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: The Queens side of the Pulaski Bridge, then 48th Ave, Vernon Blvd, 44th Dr and Crescent St
Subway: 7 to Vernon Blvd–Jackson Av or Hunters Point Av; G to 21 St or Court Sq; E to Court Sq–23 St

In 2025 the MTA posted platform controllers at Queensboro Plaza; expect crowds at the stations nearest the course.

Source: Official site ↗ · On LovelyNYC →

Upper East Side, ManhattanConfirmed for 2026

First Avenue: the Upper East Side, miles 16–19

Runners come off the quiet Queensboro Bridge into the roar of First Avenue at about mile 16. NYRR lists miles 16 to 18 as a recommended spot, with bars and restaurants all along the avenue.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: First Avenue from 59th Street north
Subway: 4/5/6 or N/R to Lexington Av–59 St; Q to 72 St, 86 St or 96 St; 6 along Lexington Avenue

Pedestrian crossing zones are at 69th, 72nd, 83rd and 86th Streets. The crowds thin out a little north of 96th.

Source: Official site ↗ · On LovelyNYC →

East Harlem, ManhattanConfirmed for 2026

East Harlem & the Charity Cheer Zone, miles 18–20

NYRR recommends East Harlem for miles 18 to 20 and runs a Charity Cheer Zone at First Avenue and 120th Street, the last big push before the Bronx.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: First Avenue in the 100s; the Charity Cheer Zone is at First Avenue and 120th Street
Subway: 6 to 103 St, 110 St or 116 St; 4/5/6 to 125 St

This is where many runners hit the wall. A loud crowd here matters more than anywhere else on the course.

Source: Official site ↗

Mott Haven, the BronxConfirmed for 2026

The Bronx: a new route through Mott Haven, miles 20–21

Runners cross the Willis Avenue Bridge at about mile 20 and spend roughly a mile in the Bronx. This year brings the course's first change in 15 years: after the bridge the route now runs up Alexander Avenue to East 141st Street and Third Avenue before turning onto East 138th Street and the Madison Avenue Bridge.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: East 135th St, Alexander Ave, East 141st St, Third Ave and East 138th St
Subway: 6 to 3 Av–138 St or Brook Av; 4/5 to 138 St–Grand Concourse

The 2026 Bronx street closures haven't been published yet; the city usually posts them the week before the race.

Source: Official site ↗

Harlem & Upper Fifth Avenue, ManhattanConfirmed for 2026

Harlem & Fifth Avenue, miles 22–24

NYRR recommends Fifth Avenue between East 90th and 105th Streets, the last place to see runners before they enter Central Park at about mile 24. The long gentle climb here is one of the hardest stretches of the race.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: Fifth Avenue from 138th Street south, past Marcus Garvey Park; mile 22 is at 125th Street
Subway: 2/3 to 125 St, 116 St or Central Park North–110 St; 6 to 96 St or 103 St; Q to 96 St

If you've already watched in Brooklyn, this is the easiest second spot to reach by subway.

Source: Official site ↗ · On LovelyNYC →

Central Park, ManhattanConfirmed for 2026

Central Park & the finish, miles 24–26.2

The race finishes on West Drive by Tavern on the Green. A free standing area runs from Columbus Circle to the grandstands, about 500 feet before the line; it fills up and chairs aren't allowed. There's no spectator access north of the grandstands, and every entrance has bag screening.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free standing area; the East Side Grandstand is ticketed
Where: Central Park South, Columbus Circle and West Drive; the finish is on West Drive at 67th Street, by Tavern on the Green
Subway: A/B/C/D/1 to 59 St–Columbus Circle; N/Q/R to 57 St–7 Av

NYRR's own pages list different entrance points for the finish area, so check its 2026 finish map before you go. Bring as little as possible: no strollers, coolers, folding chairs or umbrellas.

Source: Official site ↗

Upper West Side, ManhattanConfirmed for 2026

Meeting your runner: the Family Reunion area

Runners leave Central Park at West 77th Street and walk south to the meeting area, arranged alphabetically. NYRR asks families to leave large bags and strollers at home and warns that phone service may be overloaded.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Hours: 11am–6pm
Cost: Free
Where: West 69th to 71st Streets, entered through screening on Columbus Avenue. Letters by last name: 71st St A–F, 70th St G–N, 69th St O–Z
Subway: 1 to 66 St or 72 St; 2/3 or B/C to 72 St

Arrive 20 to 30 minutes after your runner's expected finish time, and agree on a letter in advance.

Source: Official site ↗ · On LovelyNYC →

AnywhereConfirmed for 2026

Tracking a runner, and watching on TV

The free NYRR App, built with TCS, has live runner tracking, an interactive spectator map and course cameras; timing mats are at every mile from mile 3. NYRR lists WABC-TV coverage from 7am and ESPN2 nationally from 8 to 11:30am, with a finish-line stream on the ABC7 app into the evening.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Free
Where: The NYRR App (iOS and Android) or NYRR's web tracker; WABC-TV Channel 7 in New York and ESPN2 nationally

Download the app and add your runner the night before, when the network is quiet.

Source: Official site ↗

2026TBA

All five boroughs2026 not yet announced

Getting around on race day

Streets along the route close in rolling stages from early morning; in 2025, First Avenue was closed from 7am to 10:30pm and Central Park South from 8:30am to 6:30pm. In 2025 the Central Park transverses at 65th, 79th and 96th Streets also closed, and buses couldn't cross Fifth Avenue during the race.

When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
Cost: Standard subway fare
Where: Every borough on the course
Subway: NYRR says the subway is the best way to get around; the MTA posts its marathon service notice the week before

Don't count on buses anywhere near the course. Check mta.info the week of the race for 2026 changes.

Source: Official site ↗

Notes on the dates

Spectators aren't allowed at the Staten Island start or on any of the course's bridges.
NYRR asks spectators to stay behind the tape or barricades, leave amplified speakers at home, and remember that the portable toilets on the course are for runners. Drones are banned.
The MTA's 2026 marathon service notice and the city's 2026 street closures haven't been posted yet; details marked 2025 show last year's pattern. We'll update this page when they're out, usually the week before the race.
Start times are NYRR's and subject to change. Finishes count as official until 10pm.

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