What to do in New York on marathon weekend?

Thursday, Friday: what to do in New York on marathon weekend? 🗽

The New York Marathon kicks off on Sunday, November 1, 2026, for an edition celebrating 50 years of the course through the five boroughs. Arrive on Thursday. A quirk of the calendar: France turns its clocks back a week before the United States, and the time difference drops to 5h until Saturday evening, instead of the usual 6h.

First mandatory stop: the expo at the Javits Center, open during the week and on the weekend from 9am to 5pm. No proxy pickup: you collect your bib in person 🎽 . Aim for Thursday or Friday morning, before the Saturday crush, and enjoy the stands.

In the evening, the opening ceremony parades thousands of runners, flags in hand, to the finish line in Central Park. A foretaste of Sunday's fervor, without the cramps.

When it comes to sightseeing, be ruthless. The free Staten Island Ferry sails right by the Statue of Liberty with no waiting line ⛴️ . Bonus: you get to spot the route to the start if your Sunday transport goes that way. The 25,000 steps around Times Square the day before a marathon, on the other hand, have never helped anyone get past the 30 km wall.

Saturday, October 31: a shakeout run, pumpkins and pasta? 🎃

On Saturday morning, the "Dash to the Finish Line" offers a 5 km starting from the United Nations headquarters, finishing on the real marathon finish line. Ideal for bringing along your companions. For you, a 20-minute jog is enough: the loop around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (about 2.5 km, completely flat) does the job perfectly. Say hello in passing to the statue of Fred Lebow, father of the modern race.

In the evening, the city switches to Halloween mode: the Village Halloween Parade takes over Sixth Avenue. Watch it from afar, seated if possible. The only zombie allowed this weekend will be you on Monday morning.

Reload your glycogen with a slice of New York pizza or a plate of pasta 🍕 . Good news to finish: during the night, the United States switches to standard time. You gain an hour of sleep exactly on the night you need it most 😴 .

Sunday and Monday: where to cheer, where to recover? 📣

Your supporters have three golden spots. Brooklyn offers the most festive section, with brass bands and gospel. First Avenue explodes with noise as you come off the Queensboro Bridge, around km 26 🌉 . Fifth Avenue accompanies the descent back toward the park. Two spots maximum: the subway gets packed and avenues close. To build their plan, they'll find everything about the neighborhoods crossed and about the adjusted route in the Bronx in 2026.

Write your first name on your T-shirt: a stranger will yell it at the exact moment your legs are negotiating with your brain. At the front, the elites are chasing course records: 2h04'58" for Tamirat Tola in 2023, 2h19'51" for Hellen Obiri in 2025.

On Monday, buy the New York Times: your name and finish time traditionally appear there 🗞️. Wear your medal everywhere, New Yorkers will congratulate you in the street. To loosen up, walk the High Line then cross the Brooklyn Bridge, with no stairs. The Big Apple race also earns you a star in the World Marathon Majors 🏅 . You can already start turning your eyes to Berlin or Tokyo.

A one-of-a-kind bib

No bib yet for the New York Marathon? Find out how to get one, note the date of the lottery draw and book your package on Finishers. The Verrazzano Bridge is waiting for you, and so is Sinatra. See you on the start line? 🏁