New York City Marathon accepts one per cent of applicants for 2026
The race received a record 240,000 applicants for the lottery draw from more than 160 countries
Kevin Morris
If you were one of the 240,000 runners who applied to the 2026 New York City Marathon lottery, you may have had better odds hitting your favourite number in roulette.
On Wednesday, New York Road Runners (NYRR) announced the highly anticipated results of the 2026 draw after reportedly receiving applications from more than 160 countries, with only one per cent of applicants gaining entry into the race.
RELEASE: New York Road Runners Sets Record with 240,000+ Applications for 2026 TCS New York City Marathon Drawing >> https://t.co/abd6LlVmtw pic.twitter.com/woksnKIQrP
— NYRR Media Relations (@nyrrnews) March 4, 2026
Last year, the race reclaimed its title as the world’s largest marathon from the TCS London Marathon, with more than 59,000 runners crossing the finish line in Central Park. The staggering registration numbers appear to be fueled by the current running boom, following another record-setting year in 2025. The 2026 edition of the marathon, set to take place on Nov. 1, will mark the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, which was first run in 1976.
If you’re in the 99 per cent, don’t panic, there’s still about half a dozen ways to qualify for the 2026 race and 40,000+ spots to fill, with the most common being through running a time qualifier. If you don’t have the time qualifier, there are also ways to run the race through NYRR’s various programs, including the 9+1 (race) program and their virtual racing series.
The general entry lottery is the easiest way to apply (essentially putting your name in a hat), and it attracts the most applicants each year, but your chances of success here are slim. This year’s applicants had to submit their lottery entry during a three-week registration period from Feb. 4 to 25. The lottery application period is typically announced in the weeks following the race.
With limited spots, even runners who’ve hit the time qualifier aren’t guaranteed entry. NYRR says they’ve had to adjust their time qualifier standard, accepting around the top 10 per cent of marathon qualifiers for 2026—meaning athletes had to run at least 22 minutes and 52 seconds faster than their initial qualifying time. For women aged 18-35, you would have had to run a sub-three-hour marathon to get a spot on the startline for 2026. The standards to get in have become even tougher than the Boston Marathon.
For those who don’t secure a spot through the drawing, all hope is not lost. You can still gain entry through charity partnerships, the NYRR Team for Climate, the NYRR member-only second-chance draw or an international tour operator. But if you are one of the 240,000 applicants reading this, we hope luck was on your side!
