New York Road Runners (NYRR), the non-profit organisation that organises more than 60 adult and youth races annually including the TCS New York City Marathon, has announced updates to its membership structure.
The changes introduce a new drawing system for its 9+1 program, eliminating the Member Plus tier, and aiming to improve race accessibility across its calendar.
The 9+1 program, which has provided a pathway for over 200,000 members to secure entry into the TCS New York City Marathon, will now require participants to enter a free-to-enter random drawing. Participation in the program will be limited to 15,000 or more selected members annually. Members who complete nine qualifying races and one volunteer assignment in a calendar year earn guaranteed, non-complimentary entry to the following year’s marathon.
Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners, said “The hardest thing about completing 9+1 should be running the races – not getting into them.
“Over the past 24 months, we conducted an extensive audit and piloted several initiatives to address the overwhelming demand for our races, largely driven by the popularity of the TCS New York City Marathon and the success of our 9+1 program. Now, to ensure more local runners have access to our races year-round, we’ve updated our membership model and revamped 9+1. We look forward to introducing new benefits for all NYRR members over the coming year.”
The inaugural 9+1 eligibility drawing will open on the organisation’s website from September 17–29, 2026, with the selection taking place on October 1, 2026. Applicants must hold an active NYRR membership by September 16 and maintain it through drawing day. Selected runners will be charged a US$99 pass fee to become 9+1 Passholders, granting them access to a new Passholder Race Selection Process designed to help secure required race registrations and volunteer slots.
Those selected in the 2026 drawing will complete requirements during 2027 to gain entry into the 2028 TCS New York City Marathon.
The changes do not impact members currently completing 9+1 requirements during 2026 for entry into the 2027 marathon. NYRR will reserve complimentary 9+1 Passes for participants in its Race Free program, alongside a dedicated allotment for athletes nearing Streakers and 15+ status. Alternative qualification avenues, including time standards, charity programs, and the general marathon entry drawing, remain unchanged.
Alongside the 9+1 overhaul, NYRR is eliminating its Member Plus tier to create a unified membership experience. All standard members will receive advance registration access for non-drawing races, allowing them to sign up two days prior to the general public starting October 14, 2026, for events scheduled from January through March 2027.
Existing Individual Plus and Family Plus members will automatically transition to standard tiers on August 19, receiving prorated refunds for the remaining duration of their membership term.
To address member questions regarding the updates, NYRR hosted a live town hall on August 6, 2026, broadcast during its Set the Pace Presented by Peloton podcast on YouTube.
Established in 1958, New York Road Runners serves more than 500,000 participants annually across the five boroughs of New York City. Its flagship event, the TCS New York City Marathon, welcomes over 50,000 runners each November. The 2026 edition marks the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course design, with a fundraising target of US$100 million for its Official Charity Partner Program.
