New York Road Runners (NYRR) has launched a year-long celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course for the TCS New York City Marathon.
The US-based non-profit, which organises 60 adult and youth races annually, opened the application drawing for the 2026 event on February 4, 2026.
The race first expanded to a five-borough format in 1976 to celebrate the US Bicentennial. It has since grown into the world’s largest marathon, attracting nearly 60,000 runners and over two million spectators to the streets of New York City on the first Sunday of November.
To mark the milestone, NYRR has set an ambitious goal of raising more than US$100 million for its Official Charity Partners at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. The Official Charity Partner Program, which began in 2006, has seen runners raise nearly US$700 million for more than 1,000 non-profit organisations.
In 2025, more than 14,000 charity runners raised US$80 million for over 600 charities, representing a 14% increase over 2024. For the 2026 season, the program will expand to include more than 670 charities, the highest number in the race’s history.
Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, said “The five-borough New York City Marathon course has defined what’s possible when sport, community, and purpose come together. For 50 years, this course has showcased the heart, resilience, and diversity of New York City on a global stage.
“This milestone comes at an incredibly exciting moment for our non-profit, as participation continues to grow and as running has become more inclusive and accessible for all.”
The 2026 marathon will also pilot an expanded Para Athletics categories program. This initiative introduces five additional categories and corresponding awards to enhance the experience for athletes with disabilities:
- Low Vision and Blind
- Intellectual and Developmental Disability
- Co-ordination Difficulties / Hypertonia / Ataxia / Athetosis
- Lower Limb Disability
- Upper Limb Disability
To be eligible, runners must have a permanent disability as defined by World Para Athletics that impacts their ability to run. Kevin Orcel, a visually impaired athlete, said “This is a powerful first step and a real opportunity for athletes with disabilities to truly compete.
“Too often, when people hear ‘adaptive sports,’ they think recreation and participation, but we’re competitors.”
NYRR also continues to support its premier charity, NYRR Team for Kids, which has raised more than US$136 million since 2002. Additionally, the NYRR Team for Climate initiative will launch in April 2026 to raise funds for carbon reduction and sustainability efforts.
The application for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon drawing is open from February 4–25, 2026. The official charity partners for the anniversary year will be announced on March 4, 2026.
