New York City Marathon accepts one per cent of applicants for 2026

March 4, 2026

If you were one of the 240,000 runners who applied to the 2026 New York City Marathon lottery, you may have had better odds hitting your favourite number in roulette.

On Wednesday, New York Road Runners (NYRR) announced the highly anticipated results of the 2026 draw after reportedly receiving applications from more than 160 countries, with only one per cent of applicants gaining entry into the race.

Last year, the race reclaimed its title as the world’s largest marathon from the TCS London Marathon, with more than 59,000 runners crossing the finish line in Central Park. The staggering registration numbers appear to be fueled by the current running boom, following another record-setting year in 2025. CANADIAN Running Magazine