The 2026 NYC Marathon starts at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, November 1, beginning with the men’s professional wheelchair division. The professional women’s running race starts at 8:35 a.m., followed by the professional men at 9:05 a.m. General runners begin in five waves, starting at 9:10 a.m.
Your exact start time depends on your division or assigned wave. Here is the full schedule and what runners need to know before race morning.
NYC Marathon 2026 Start Times
The TCS New York City Marathon uses staggered starts for different divisions and runner waves. All times below are local New York time, EST.
| Division or wave | Start time |
|---|---|
| Men’s professional wheelchair division | 8:00 a.m. |
| Women’s professional wheelchair division | 8:02 a.m. |
| Handcycles and select athletes with disabilities | 8:22 a.m. |
| Professional women’s open division | 8:35 a.m. |
| Professional men’s open division | 9:05 a.m. |
| Wave 1 | 9:10 a.m. |
| Wave 2 | 9:45 a.m. |
| Wave 3 | 10:20 a.m. |
| Wave 4 | 10:55 a.m. |
| Wave 5 | 11:30 a.m. |
Start times are subject to change. Check the official New York Road Runners start schedule before race day.
What Time Do General Runners Start?
General runners start between 9:10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., depending on their assigned wave.
Your official race bib shows your wave, start color and corral. Use that assignment to identify your scheduled start time and plan when to enter your corral.
According to NYRR, runners may move to a later wave or corral, but they may not start in an earlier one. If you want to run with someone assigned to a different group, both runners can join the later assigned wave and corral. See NYRR’s wave and corral rules for details.
When Do NYC Marathon Start Corrals Close?
Runners need to enter their assigned corrals before they close. The corral closing time is earlier than the wave’s start time.
| Wave | Corrals open | Corrals close | Race starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave 1 | 8:10 a.m. | 8:45 a.m. | 9:10 a.m. |
| Wave 2 | 9:05 a.m. | 9:25 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. |
| Wave 3 | 9:45 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | 10:20 a.m. |
| Wave 4 | 10:25 a.m. | 10:40 a.m. | 10:55 a.m. |
| Wave 5 | 11:00 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. |
These are corral entry times, rather than recommended arrival times at the start area. Plan your journey separately using NYRR’s transportation guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is the NYC Marathon in 2026?
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1.
What time does the first NYC Marathon wave start?
The first wave of general runners starts at 9:10 a.m. EST. Earlier starts begin at 8:00 a.m. for the professional wheelchair divisions.
What time do the elite runners start?
The professional women’s open division starts at 8:35 a.m. EST, and the professional men’s open division starts at 9:05 a.m. EST.
What is the last NYC Marathon start time?
Wave 5 starts at 11:30 a.m. EST, according to the published schedule.
Does my race time begin when my wave starts?
NYRR states that your finish time is your net time, measured from when you cross the start line. Check your race bib for your assigned wave and follow the official start-area announcements.
Source: New York Road Runners — The Start.