NYC Marathon weekend, Sunday, November 1, 2026

The 50th New York City Marathon runs through all five boroughs, from Staten Island to the finish in Central Park. Here is where to cheer, what to know for race morning, and how to spend the other days of your trip.

Where to watch

• Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn (miles 3 to 7): early in the race, easier to get a spot at the barrier.
• Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene (mile 8): one of the liveliest crowds on the course.
• Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg (miles 11 to 12): loud, and the street is narrow, so runners pass close.
• Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City (mile 14): fewer people, so your runner can hear you.
• First Avenue, Upper East Side (miles 17 to 19): the loudest stretch, and the most crowded.
• Fifth Avenue, 110th to 90th Street (miles 22 to 23): a long uphill where cheering helps most, with thinner crowds.
• Central Park South (mile 25): the last mile, close to the finish.

The bridges (Verrazzano, Pulaski, Queensboro, Willis Avenue, Madison Avenue) are closed to spectators.

Race morning tips

• Clocks go back one hour that morning (end of daylight saving time).
• Streets near the course close early. Take the subway and walk the last part; driving doesn't work that day.
• Dress in layers: you may stand still for hours in the cold.
• Follow your runner in the official race app, and agree on a meeting place after the finish, because phones often lose signal in big crowds.
• A sign with your runner's name in big letters helps them spot you.

The other days of your trip

Runners want short walks and good food before the race, and something easy the day after. Tell us when you arrive and what you like, and GoToday sends one short email each morning with 3 to 5 things worth doing that day, with when to leave and what it costs.

Plan my New York days

Looking around first? See New York tonight, this weekend and the holiday season.

Route and viewing spots from Rockefeller Center. Check New York Road Runners for official street closures and spectator areas before race day.