The 2026 New York City Marathon drew a record number of applicants, with more than 240,000 runners submitting entries — a 20% increase over last year. In the end, only about 1% of applicants are expected to secure a spot through the lottery.

How low are those odds? The statistics show that the chance of getting into Harvard is actually higher than winning a spot in this year’s New York Marathon lottery.

As one of the six World Marathon Majors and the world’s largest marathon, the New York Marathon has attracted increasing attention from runners around the globe in recent years.

In 2025, 59,226 runners crossed the finish line in Central Park, helping New York reclaim its title as the world’s largest marathon. Participants represented 132 countries; 2,396 athletes finished within three hours, and more than 20,000 runners broke the four-hour mark.

In 2026, the New York City Marathon will mark the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course introduced in 1976, a milestone that has likely driven a surge in entries.

At the same time, direct-entry standards have risen.

Non-NYRR marathon applicants must be 22 minutes and 52 seconds faster than their age-group standard to rank within the top 10% of submitted times and thereby secure qualification.

For runners who don't qualify, there are other routes to entry. Charity spots, for example—the New York Marathon's charity program has expanded to 670 organizations and raised $80 million in the past year alone. There is also a member-only second-chance lottery, and entries can be obtained through official international tour operators, the Climate Team initiative, and the popular 9+1 program.

With marathons booming around the world today, securing an entry is harder than actually running the race.

So, is the New York Marathon the major marathon with the lowest acceptance rate?

Text:CC / Editor:CC