Today is the day tens of thousands of runners find out whether they’ve earned a spot on the start line of the world’s largest marathon.
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon lottery draw takes place today, March 4, 2026, with results expected to land in applicants’ inboxes by end of day. The application window closed on February 25, and runners who submitted during the February 4–25 period are now waiting to hear their fate.
The mood online is equal parts excitement and nervous humor. “My favorite annual form of rejection therapy,” wrote one runner on Reddit’s r/RunNYC thread today, which quickly racked up hundreds of upvotes. “Manifesting you all get in.”
How the Drawing Works
New York Road Runners, the organization behind the race, divides applicants into three separate pools: NYC metro area residents (within roughly 60 miles of the city), U.S. residents outside the metro area, and international runners. A drawing is conducted within each pool, meaning your odds depend partly on where you live.
There’s no notification before you’re charged. If your name is drawn, NYRR automatically charges your credit or debit card the full registration fee — no confirmation step, no opt-out. Using 2025 rates as a baseline, that means $255 for NYRR members, $315 for U.S. non-members, and around $350 for international runners.
If a charge fails, runners have until March 10 to update their payment information. NYRR will continue retrying charges through March 11. After that, any application that hasn’t been successfully charged is forfeited.
A Second Chance for NYRR Members
Runners who hold an active NYRR membership — one that was active as of February 3 and remains active through today — are automatically entered into a Member-Only Second-Chance Drawing, also taking place today. This gives dues-paying members an additional shot at entry if they weren’t selected in the general draw.
You Didn’t Get In? You Still Have Options
The lottery is only one path into the race. Runners who’ve completed nine NYRR qualifying races and one volunteer shift in 2025 qualify for guaranteed entry through the 9+1 program. Those who’ve hit specific time standards at eligible races can also apply for a guaranteed spot, though availability is limited and demand is high.
Data from the 2025 race shows that the 9+1 program has become an increasingly popular route into the race, with many runners using it as a more reliable alternative to the lottery.
Runners who have crossed the NYC Marathon finish line 15 or more times earn lifetime guaranteed entry, as do those who officially cancelled their 2025 entry through NYRR’s standard policy.
For runners who missed every guaranteed entry window, charity fundraising remains an option. NYRR’s Official Charity Partner list for 2026 is expected to be announced in spring 2026, with fundraising minimums typically starting around $2,500–$3,000 USD. International runners can also look out for Official Tour Operator packages, which bundle race entry with travel, also due to be announced in the coming months.
The Race Itself
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The course winds through all five boroughs, starting on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in Staten Island and finishing in Central Park. More than 50,000 runners cross that finish line each year, making it the largest marathon on the planet by field size.
For the runners who get the good news today, planning can begin in earnest. For the majority who don’t — and last year, that was the vast majority of applicants — the countdown to February 2027 starts now.
