New York City Marathon 2026 to serve as Olympic qualifier

The 55th edition of the New York City Marathon is scheduled for November 1, 2026. As the final Major of the season, the event will serve as a qualifying race for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Under new World Athletics criteria, a top-five finish in a Platinum-level event, such as the New York City Marathon, will secure an Olympic qualification.

In preparation for the main race, the New York Road Runners hosted the Marathon Kids Kickoff, an event involving nearly 5,000 young runners aged 2 to 18 across all five boroughs. This youth event marks part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the original five-borough marathon.