New York City Marathon: Guide to the Drawing, Qualifying Times and How to Get In
The New York City Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors and one of the marathons with the most finishers in the world: 59,226 in 2025. It runs through all five boroughs of the city. If you want to run it from abroad, this guide covers what the official New York Road Runners (NYRR) website says: date, how the international drawing works, qualifying times and the other routes in.
New York City Marathon key facts
According to the official TCS New York City Marathon website:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2026 date | Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| 2027 date | Sunday 7 November 2027, according to the qualifying times page |
| Course | All five boroughs of New York |
| Finishers in 2025 | 59,226 |
| Average time in 2025 | 4:32:25 |
| Countries represented | 130 |
| Organiser | New York Road Runners (NYRR) |
How to get a New York City Marathon place from abroad
The international drawing
According to the official page for the TCS New York City Marathon drawing, non-guaranteed places are allocated in three separate drawings: residents of the New York area, residents of the rest of the United States and international applicants. If you live outside the US, you enter the international pool.
For the 2026 edition, applications were open from 4 to 25 February and the drawing took place on 4 March. For 2027, dates are to be announced. By applying you authorise the entry fee to be charged, which happens as soon as you are selected and is non-refundable and non-transferable.
International tour operators
Non-US residents can book a package with guaranteed entry through an official international tour operator. According to the official Run in 2027 page, the official operators for 2027 will be announced in early 2027.
Qualifying times
NYRR offers a limited number of places to runners who set a time in a certified marathon, including outside the United States. For 2027, the time must be run between 1 January and 31 December 2026, using net time, and be verifiable on the race’s results website. If there are more applications than places, the fastest in each age and gender group get in; the rest go into the general drawing.
| Age on 7-11-2027 | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:53:00 | 3:13:00 |
| 35-39 | 2:55:00 | 3:15:00 |
| 40-44 | 2:58:00 | 3:26:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:05:00 | 3:38:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:14:00 | 3:51:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:23:00 | 4:10:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:34:00 | 4:27:00 |
| 65-69 | 3:45:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:10:00 | 5:30:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:30:00 | 6:00:00 |
| 80 and over | 4:55:00 | 6:35:00 |
Source: official NYRR time qualifiers page. Half marathons only count if they are NYRR races.
Charity places
Registering with an official charity partner guarantees your place in exchange for fundraising. The 2027 charities will be announced in spring.
Majors draws
With three or more stars you can enter the circuit’s draws; I explain it in the guide to the World Marathon Majors.
Tips for preparing for the New York City Marathon
- It is run in early November: your preparation falls in summer and race morning can be cold.
- It is a huge race: start calmly and do not waste energy overtaking in the first kilometres. The strategy is in the guide to the negative split.
- Check the course profile on the official website and, if it has climbs, include them in your training; there are ideas in the guide to hill training.
- Plan your trip early; there are tips in the guide to travelling to a race.
Conclusion
The 2027 New York City Marathon is on Sunday 7 November through the city’s five boroughs. From abroad you can get in through the international drawing, which opens early in the year, an official international tour operator, a charity place or a qualifying time set in 2026. Check the official NYRR website, as 2027 dates were still to be announced.
FAQ
When is the New York City Marathon?
The 2026 edition is on 1 November and the 2027 edition on 7 November.
How do I enter the drawing from abroad?
On the NYRR website, during the application period, which in 2026 was in February. You enter the international drawing.
What time do I need to get into New York?
For 2027, for example, 2:53 for men aged 18 to 34 and 3:13 for women of that age, in a certified 2026 marathon.
Can I go with a tour operator?
Yes. Official international tour operators sell packages with guaranteed entry. The 2027 operators will be announced early in the year.
Is entry refundable?
No. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
