The New York City Marathon closes out the fall Majors season, and it does so as the largest single-day marathon in the world.
## The Basics
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, the seventh and final World Marathon Major on the calendar this year, following Tokyo, Boston, Sydney, Berlin and Chicago.
## The Five-Borough Course
Unlike the flat, record-friendly layouts of Berlin and Chicago, New York’s course is famous for its difficulty. Runners cross five boroughs and five bridges, including the iconic start on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, with rolling hills and repeated bridge climbs making it one of the toughest courses among the Majors.
– Course spans Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan
– Finish line located in Central Park
– One of the largest single-day marathons in the world by finisher count
## Record Demand
New York Road Runners received more than 240,000 applications for the draw this year, underlining just how competitive entry into the race has become. Unlike Berlin or Chicago’s flatter, faster reputations, New York’s appeal leans heavily on its five-borough spectacle and the energy of crowds lining nearly the entire route.
## Why It’s a Different Kind of Major
Where Berlin and Chicago attract elite fields chasing world records, New York’s difficulty and crowd support make it more about the full-city experience than pure speed. That distinction is part of why so many runners treat completing all six original Majors, plus new addition Sydney, as the ultimate bucket-list achievement in the sport.
For the two fast-course Majors that precede New York on the fall calendar, see our guides to the Berlin Marathon and Chicago Marathon. If you’re a fan of endurance racing more broadly, our Ironman World Championship 2026 guide covers the sport’s other major fall showcase.
## Final Word
New York closes the marathon season with its toughest course and its biggest crowds, a fitting finale to the fall Majors run.