NYC Marathon Lottery 2026: Application Dates and Entry Process
The 2026 NYC Marathon lottery opened February 4–25 with a March 4 drawing. Learn how it worked and what follows.
NYC Marathon Lottery 2026: Application Dates and Entry Process
Updated November 1, 2026 • U.S. English • Editorial draft
The 2026 New York City Marathon lottery is closed. According to New York Road Runners (NYRR), non-guaranteed drawing applications were accepted February 4–25, 2026, and the drawing was scheduled for March 4, 2026. The race itself is on November 1, 2026. This page explains the completed 2026 process for readers checking their application history; it is not a claim that registration remains open.
NYC Marathon 2026 lottery dates at a glance
| Milestone | 2026 date | What it meant |
| General drawing applications | February 4–25 | Submit an entry request, if eligible |
| Drawing | March 4 | Selection among accepted applications |
| NYRR member second-chance drawing | March 4 | An additional opportunity for eligible members who applied |
| Race day | November 1 | The event, not another registration deadline |
The word *lottery* refers to a non-guaranteed entry drawing: applying did not promise a bib. NYRR uses a registration process separate from finishing-time qualification. Do not confuse the entry lottery with race-day start corrals or runners’ bib pickup.
How the three applicant pools worked
NYRR describes three pools for the 2026 drawing: NYC metro-area residents living in or within 60 miles of the city; U.S. applicants outside the NYC metro area, including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories; and international applicants living outside the United States. The pools are based on applicants’ residency categories, not the borough where they hope to finish the race.
Participating runners ordinarily logged in through an NYRR account to provide information and complete the drawing application. An applicant should use the email and account information from the original entry when reviewing the outcome. Sharing the same name as another runner, seeing a charge, or finding an old race listing does not by itself prove an accepted place.
What the member-only second-chance drawing meant
Eligible NYRR members who met the organizer’s membership conditions and applied to the non-guaranteed drawing could enter a member-only second-chance drawing on March 4. It was not a separate window for anyone who missed February 25. Eligibility depended on the organizer’s specific rules, and an NYRR membership did not automatically guarantee a race place.
If you entered the 2026 drawing and are unsure of the outcome, check the messages in the NYRR account that you used at the time and the event’s posted status. Avoid relying on screenshots from unofficial social posts, which may reflect a different registration year or another runner’s account.
If you missed the 2026 lottery
Because the application window has passed, a newly submitted 2026 drawing application is not available through the dates on this page. NYRR’s other marathon entry pathways may include qualifying times, charity opportunities and program-specific entry methods, but each has separate requirements and deadlines. Do not treat an entry option advertised for 2027 as an opportunity to join the 2026 race retroactively.
If you are planning for a future marathon, begin by identifying the entry year. Then verify that year’s NYRR announcement instead of reusing the February–March 2026 calendar. For the next race’s separate time-qualifying rules, read NYC Marathon Qualifying Times 2027.
Lottery, entry, Expo and race day: four different stages
A lottery application requests a chance to enter; successful registration confirms participation; Expo bib pickup supplies the runner’s race materials; and race-day waves set the schedule for reaching the starting area. These stages have different dates and proof requirements. A race-day spectator may not need a drawing entry, while a runner needs a confirmed spot and race materials.
The 2026 NYC Marathon Expo was October 29–31 at the Javits Center, before race day. It is not where lottery applications were accepted. Someone trying to find a missing bib should not assume the Expo remains open on November 1.
Frequently asked questions
When was the 2026 NYC Marathon lottery?
Applications ran February 4–25, 2026, with the drawing scheduled for March 4. As of November 1, those dates are past.
Is applying to the lottery the same as guaranteed entry?
No. It is a non-guaranteed drawing; only selected and properly registered applicants receive race entry.
Is there a separate lottery for international runners?
International applicants were placed into a distinct drawing pool, rather than the NYC metro or U.S. national pool.
Are 2027 NYC Marathon lottery dates the same?
Do not assume so. Check a current NYRR 2027 announcement for its own application period and eligibility rules.