The nonprofit that “runs” New York City sets $100 million charity fundraising goal to support nearly 700 worthy causes
Expanded Para Athletics categories pilot to launch with 2026 marathon
Runners can enter the TCS New York City Marathon drawing Feb. 4–25 to be a part of the milestone event
New York, Feb. 3, 2026 — New York Road Runners (NYRR), the nonprofit that “runs” New York City producing 60 annual adult and youth races and providing free year-round youth and community programs, is kicking off a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of its five-borough New York City Marathon course as the application for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon drawing opens at noon ET tomorrow, Feb. 4.
First run as a five-borough race in 1976 to celebrate the nation’s Bicentennial and uplift the city, the New York City Marathon set the standard for the modern marathon and is now the world’s largest, bringing together nearly 60,000 runners and more than two million spectators to experience the transformative power of running every first Sunday of November. The 50th anniversary coincides with New York Road Runners’ recent rebrand and the launch of its new “Believe in Every Step” brand platform, and as the nation marks America250.
“The five-borough New York City Marathon course has defined what’s possible when sport, community, and purpose come together,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO of New York Road Runners. “For 50 years, this course has showcased the heart, resilience, and diversity of New York City on a global stage. This milestone comes at an incredibly exciting moment for our nonprofit, as participation continues to grow and as running has become more inclusive and accessible for all. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this iconic course, we’re honoring the race’s impact on New York City and the global running community—while building on that legacy and our mission to transform lives through running.”
Expanded Charity Partner Program With $100 Million Fundraising Goal
To mark the historic race, New York Road Runners is setting a goal of raising more than $100 million for its Official Charity Partners through the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.
The TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner Program supports other nonprofit missions and services by giving organizations guaranteed entries to the TCS New York City Marathon for athletes to fundraise on their behalf. Since the inception of the Official Charity Partner Program in 2006, runners have raised nearly $700 million for more than 1,000 worthy nonprofit organizations around the globe. In 2025 alone, more than 14,000 charity runners put purpose behind every step and raised a record-breaking $80 million for more than 600 charities, a 14 percent increase over 2024.
In celebration of the 50th running of the five-borough course anniversary, in 2026, New York Road Runners is expanding its TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner Program to include more than 670 charities—the most ever. The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partners will be announced, and the program will launch March 4, on Drawing Day.
“This $100 million charity fundraising goal will help worthy causes from New York City and beyond raise crucial funds for their own missions, making millions of people’s lives better in the process,” said Simmelkjaer. “For 50 years, generations of New Yorkers from all five boroughs have embraced runners from around the world as they have run through their streets on what has become best day of the year in New York City. This is a fitting way to say thank you.”
In addition to the Official Charity Partner Program, New York Road Runners has expanded registrations for its own premier charity, NYRR Team for Kids, which supports the nonprofit’s free year-round programs including Rising New York Road Runners for youth, NYRR Open Run for communities across the five boroughs, NYRR Striders for older adults, and NYRR Race Free for complimentary race entries to qualifying participants. NYRR Team for Kids has raised more than $136 million since 2002, including more than $11.4 million during the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon.
Additionally, NYRR Team for Climate, a dedicated entry method tied to New York Road Runners’ sustainability initiatives, will continue to raise funds to reduce carbon emissions and offset the carbon footprint of the race. Since it was introduced in 2024, NYRR Team for Climate has raised more than $1.6 million to reduce the carbon emissions and successfully offset the entire carbon footprints* of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon, and the 2025 United Airlines NYC Half, RBC Brooklyn Half, and TCS New York City Marathon. Registration for NYRR Team for Climate will launch in April during Earth Month.
*Based on 2023 and 2024 measurements, respectively
Para Athletics Categories Pilot
In the 50 years since New York Road Runners hosted the first five-borough marathon, the aperture of the running industry has expanded to be more inclusive and welcoming to people of all ages and abilities. In its ongoing efforts to enhance the experience for Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) taking part in the TCS New York City Marathon, New York Road Runners will pilot the introduction of additional Para Athletic categories and corresponding awards to its existing offerings, starting in 2026.
Qualifying athletes will have the ability to select from these five additional Para Athletics categories when applying for the drawing and registering for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, providing these athletes an opportunity to be scored against others in the same category in the TCS New York City Marathon results:
- Low Vision and Blind
- Intellectual and Developmental Disability
- Co-ordination Difficulties / Hypertonia / Ataxia / Athetosis
- Lower Limb Disability
- Upper Limb Disability
To be eligible to participate in a Para Athletics category, runners must possess a permanent physical, intellectual, or vision disability as defined by World Para Athletics (WPA) that impacts their ability to participate in the sport of running, and provide a national or WPA classification or proof of disability. Runners with acute injuries or temporary conditions are not eligible for these categories. Athletes with a disability who do not wish to participate in one of the new categories can continue to register as an AWD and request reasonable accommodations. Full details can be found here.
New York Road Runners will share more exciting announcements as the 50th anniversary celebrations continue throughout the year, including limited-edition merchandise, activations, experiences, and original content honoring the historic race, its founders, and the iconic city of New York.
In addition to the non-guaranteed entry drawing, there are more than a dozen ways to enter the TCS New York City Marathon and be a part of the milestone race. Learn more here.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES
Danny Whitman, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner, said: “We’re deeply grateful to New York Road Runners for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 5-borough New York City Marathon course by setting such an inspiring and ambitious goal and for including Broadway Cares as part of that vision. Through these entries in the TCS New York City Marathon, New York Road Runners helps power our work to provide meals, medication, health care and hope to millions of people in need across the country. This partnership is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when community and compassion move together.”
Michele Perez, a Jersey City-based NYRR Team for Kids runner whose daughters participate in Rising New York Road Runners youth events, said: “As a marathoner with 20 marathons under my belt, I find it incredibly heartwarming to give back to the community that has given me so much over the years. Running with Team for Kids allows me to pay it forward—both as a runner and now as a mom, sharing this love of running with the next generation. Knowing that my fundraising supports impactful programs like Run for the Future, Rising New York Road Runners, and Striders makes every mile worth it.”
Kevin Orcel, a visually impaired athlete and member of Team Inspire who ran the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon with Achilles International, said: “This is a powerful first step and a real opportunity for athletes with disabilities to truly compete. Too often, when people hear ‘adaptive sports,’ they think recreation and participation, but we’re competitors. The medal may look the same no matter the time, but blind athletes love crossing the finish line first too… even if we don’t see it.”
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About the New York City Marathon
Initially run in 1970 as four laps of Central Park with 55 finishers, the New York City Marathon left the park and entered the five boroughs for the first time in 1976 to celebrate the U.S. Bicentennial. It was a landmark move that set the standard for the modern marathon event. Today, the TCS New York City Marathon is consistently the largest marathon in the world, bringing together 55,000+ participants and two million spectators for the best day of the year, in the best city in the world.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and
stronger communities through the transformative power of running—serving more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.