New York Road Runners revealed on Wednesday that record demand for the 2026 New York City Marathon topped more than 240,000 applicants with hopefuls from more than 160 countries vying for a chance to run on November 1.
According to the organization around 1 percent of applicants will be selected, with submissions up nearly 20 percent over last year.
Applicants will learn on Wednesday if they have been accepted with this year’s race marking the 50th year that the event has been staged to include all five of New York City’s boroughs. The race first launched in 1970 with just 55 finishers running four laps of the main loop in Central Park.
The race quickly grew in popularity and organizers saw a greater vision to connect the event to the city with the current iteration run in 1976.
“Year after year, the TCS New York City Marathon unites runners of all ages and abilities who believe in the power of every step to transform lives,” Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners said. “This year’s marathon is extra special as it marks 50 years of the five-borough course. We are thrilled to give runners more opportunities to take part in this year’s anniversary celebration, including through our expanded Official Charity Partner Program, TCS Across the Boroughs Marathon Sweepstakes, Member-Only Second Chance Drawing, International Tour Operators, and NYRR Team for Climate.”
While this year’s 1 percent acceptance rate marks a staggering level of interest in the 2026 event, it is noticeably lower than the 3 percent figure from the 2025 race.
Last year’s race drew a record 59,226 finishers for any marathon and will likely push past the 60,000 mark in November.
From the overall crop of this year’s participants, just 10 percent of non-NYRR time qualifiers were selected and needed to run at least 22 minutes and 52 seconds faster than the initial qualifying standard for their gender and age group.
Other runners making the cut are guaranteed 9+1 entrants who competed in nine NYRR races last year and volunteered in one event, along with virtual racers, runners who completed 15 or more NYC Marathons and donors.
Runners still hoping for a shot at making it to the start line this summer can raise funds for more than 670 charities as part of NYRR’s $100 million fundraising initiative. The organization looks to top the record $80 million charity runners raised last year.
