The elite men’s lead group passes through Manhattan during the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Photo: Nrbelex / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
This is the 50th running of the iconic five-borough course. Hellen Obiri defends her title against a women’s field deep enough to challenge her course record. Benson Kipruto returns for the men’s race he won last year by the slimmest margin in race history. Two high-profile withdrawals have reshaped the women’s picture this month. For the full breakdown, our elite field dispatch has everything.
2026 NYC Marathon: Watch Guide at a Glance
- Race date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
- Women’s elite start: 8:35 AM ET / 1:35 PM GMT / 7:05 PM IST
- Men’s elite start: 9:05 AM ET / 2:05 PM GMT / 7:35 PM IST
- US national TV: ESPN2, 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET
- US local (NYC): WABC-TV Channel 7, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET (pre-race from 7:00 AM)
- India: Eurosport India via Discovery+ or JioTV
- UK: TNT Sports / Max (confirm local listings in race week)
- Australia: Fox Sports / Kayo
- Free live tracker: TCS New York City Marathon App, free on iOS and Android
What Time Does the 2026 NYC Marathon Start? Every Time Zone That Matters
One detail worth knowing before you plan your morning: the United States falls back to Eastern Standard Time at 2:00 AM on November 1, which is race morning itself. The UK went back to GMT a week earlier, on October 25. On race day, New York is five hours behind London, not four. All times below reflect this.
| Event | ET (New York) | GMT (UK) | IST (India) | AEDT (Australia) | JST (Japan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcast begins | 8:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 6:30 PM | 12:00 AM Mon | 10:00 PM |
| Women’s elite start | 8:35 AM | 1:35 PM | 7:05 PM | 12:35 AM Mon | 10:35 PM |
| Men’s elite start | 9:05 AM | 2:05 PM | 7:35 PM | 1:05 AM Mon | 11:05 PM |
| Women’s elite finish (approx.) | ~10:55 AM | ~3:55 PM | ~9:25 PM | ~2:55 AM Mon | ~12:55 AM Mon |
| Men’s elite finish (approx.) | ~11:15 AM | ~4:15 PM | ~9:45 PM | ~3:15 AM Mon | ~1:15 AM Mon |
| ESPN2 / main broadcast ends | 11:30 AM | 4:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 3:30 AM Mon | 1:30 AM Mon |
| ABC finish line show | 3:00–5:00 PM | 8:00–10:00 PM | 1:30–3:30 AM Mon | 7:00–9:00 AM Mon | 5:00–7:00 AM Mon |
Elite finish windows are approximated on recent winning times for this course. Obiri’s course record stands at 2:19:51 from last year. The men’s race has finished between 2:06 and 2:10 in each of the last three editions. Both windows shift with the pace of the day.
How to Watch the 2026 NYC Marathon Live in the United States
ESPN2 carries the national broadcast from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET. This covers the full professional race from the women’s elite gun through both men’s and women’s elite finishes. The ESPN App streams the same broadcast for anyone with a qualifying TV or streaming subscription.
WABC-TV Channel 7 in New York runs extended local coverage from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET, with pre-race programming from 7:00 AM. ABC7NY.com also streams a dedicated finish line camera from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM ET, which is the cleanest option if you want an uninterrupted view of the tape as each wave comes through.
ESPN3 carries a Spanish-language broadcast simultaneously from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET, accessible through the ESPN App and ESPN.com.
The ABC Network airs a separate two-hour finish line show on Channel 7 and national affiliates from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM ET. This is a different show from the morning broadcast: it covers celebrities and thousands of everyday runners crossing the line, not the elite race. Worth having on in the background for the full texture of the day.
Radio: iHeartRadio’s 710 WOR carries live race commentary from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM ET, also available through the iHeartMedia streaming platforms.
Free finish line stream: ABC7NY.com runs an uninterrupted finish line camera from 10:30 AM ET, free in the New York market. If you are following a specific runner and know their approximate finish time, this is the most straightforward way to catch the moment without wading through a full broadcast.
How to Watch the 2026 NYC Marathon Live Outside the US: International Broadcast Guide
NYRR and IMG have secured broadcast partners across six continents for 2026. The main international window runs from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM ET, covering the full professional race. Check your local broadcaster’s schedule for exact start times and any regional variations.
| Region / Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| India | Eurosport India (via Discovery+ or JioTV) |
| UK | TNT Sports / Max (see note below) |
| Europe (broadly) | Eurosport |
| France | L’Équipe |
| Italy | RAI |
| Spain | RTVE / TVE |
| Australia | Fox Sports / Kayo |
| Canada | TSN |
| Japan | TV Asahi |
| China | SMG Sports |
| Southeast Asia | Eurosport |
| Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean | ESPN International |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport |
| Middle East | Dubai Sports |
| New Zealand | Check local listings |
UK viewers: Eurosport UK closed its channels in early 2025 and live sport moved to TNT Sports, which streams through the Max app in the UK. The 2025 NYC Marathon aired on TNT Sports and the same arrangement is expected for 2026, but the specific channel listing was not confirmed at the time of writing. Check TNT Sports and the Max app in race week to confirm your viewing option.
India viewing window: Eurosport India is available through Discovery+ and JioTV. The broadcast window runs 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM IST on Sunday November 1, covering the full professional race. Both elite finishes land before 10:00 PM IST. No alarm required.
How to Track a Runner in the 2026 NYC Marathon in Real Time
The TCS New York City Marathon App, built by Tata Consultancy Services for NYRR, is free on iOS and Android and is the official tool for following a specific runner through the race. Search by name or bib number and you get live splits at every 5 kilometres, at the halfway mark and at the finish. The app also carries live uninterrupted feeds of all four professional divisions, though these are subject to broadcast rights restrictions in some markets.
If you are timing your own day around a specific runner, work backwards from their target finish time using their wave start. A runner aiming for 4:30 in Wave 1 (starting around 9:50 AM ET) reaches the halfway mark around 11:15 AM ET and finishes around 2:20 PM ET. The app’s live splits update every few minutes and let you decide whether to head to another spot on the course or hold your position.
Live tracking is also available at results.nyrr.org during the race for anyone who prefers the browser over the app.
Best Places to Watch the NYC Marathon in Person
Watching the NYC Marathon on the course is free anywhere along all 26.2 miles, except the start village on Staten Island and the five bridges, which are closed to spectators. The practical advice: pick two spots in different boroughs, calculate your runner’s approximate arrival from their goal pace and use the subway to move between them. Road closures spread across the boroughs throughout the morning and foot traffic around the course builds early.
| Location | Approx. Mile | Subway | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn | 2–4 | R | First contact with the field after the Verrazzano. Runners still grouped, elites visible |
| Fourth Ave and Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn | 8 | B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Best-connected spot in Brooklyn. Multiple lines in and a fast exit when you need to move |
| Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn | 10–13 | G, L, M, J | The best atmosphere in Brooklyn. Block party energy, live music, sidewalks packed deep |
| Queens side of the Pulaski Bridge | 13.1 | 7, G, E | Exact halfway mark as runners cross from Brooklyn. Bridge is closed to spectators; cheer from the Queens side |
| First Avenue, Manhattan | 16–18 | N, Q, R, 4, 5, 6, F | The “wall of sound.” The loudest section of the course. Bars and restaurants open, two million people deep |
| East Harlem (Spanish Harlem) | 18–20 | 6 | Vibrant neighbourhood energy. Runners are hitting the hard miles here and the crowd matters |
| Charity Cheer Zone, First Ave and 120th St | 19–20 | 6 | Dedicated to runners who are fundraising for NYRR’s charity partners. Meaningful if you know someone on a charity bib |
| Fifth Avenue, E 90th to E 105th St | 23–24 | Q, 4, 5, 6 | The final defining climb. Runners are suffering here. Being loud at Mile 23 genuinely changes someone’s race |
| Columbus Circle (United Airlines Zone) | 25.5 | A, C, D, 1 | Runners enter Central Park. One of the most emotional moments on the course late in the day |
Finish line access: The race finishes at 67th Street on West Drive in Central Park. Grandstand seating requires a ticket, available through NYRR. A free standing spectator area runs inside Central Park from Columbus Circle to approximately 500 feet before the finish line. NYPD and NYRR may limit access based on capacity. Enter at Broadway at West 61st Street or from the east side via the Central Park path near Heckscher Fields. All entrances require screening. There is no spectator access north of the grandstands in Central Park.
Who to Watch in the 2026 NYC Marathon Elite Race
The women’s race belongs to Hellen Obiri until someone proves otherwise. The defending champion broke her own course record last year and has since run 2:15:53 at London. Sheila Chepkirui, the 2024 champion, is back in strong form. The most watched debut in the field is Weini Kelati, the American half marathon record holder at 1:06:04, making her first marathon start on a course no coach would choose on paper for a debut. That she and her team chose New York anyway says something about where they believe she is.
On the men’s side, Benson Kipruto defends a title that came down to the closest finish margin in race history. Former champions Geoffrey Kamworor and Abdi Nageeye return. American interest centres on Conner Mantz, who holds the US marathon record at 2:04:43 set at Chicago last October, and Zouhair Talbi, who ran 2:03:45 at Boston in April on a course that is not record-eligible under World Athletics rules.
For the full women’s field breakdown, including the confirmed withdrawals confirmed earlier this month and what they change about Sunday’s race, read our elite field update.
Bottom line: The 2026 NYC Marathon is one of the most accessible World Major watches for a global audience. Indian viewers get it in Sunday primetime. UK viewers get it over a long afternoon. Whether you are on ESPN2, Eurosport India, Fox Sports in Australia or TSN in Canada, the broadcast picture is as complete as it gets for a road race. Set your alert for the women’s gun at 8:35 AM ET, keep it on through 11:30 AM ET when the men’s race resolves and if you are in New York on Sunday, get to First Avenue for Miles 16 to 18 and make some noise.
Planning to run New York yourself? Our complete 2026 NYC Marathon guide covers the course borough by borough, the 2026 Bronx route change, pacing strategy and the full cost breakdown for international runners. For 2027 entry routes, guaranteed bib options and the updated 9+1 programme rules, see our NYC Marathon 2027 entry guide.