When Does New York Marathon Lottery Open? | Date Window

Few running moments feel as nerve-wracking as waiting to see if your name pops up in the New York City Marathon lottery. One email decides whether you cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in November or watch the race from your screen. Knowing exactly when the lottery opens takes away a lot of guesswork and gives you a calm plan instead of panic refreshing.

This article lays out the latest lottery opening dates, how the calendar has shifted in recent years, and what the process looks like from start to finish. You’ll also see the other entry paths runners use when the draw doesn’t go their way, plus a clear timeline so you know what to work on months before the next window opens.

When Does New York Marathon Lottery Open For 2026?

For the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, the application period for the non-guaranteed general entry drawing runs from February 4 to February 25, 2026. New York Road Runners (NYRR) lists this window on its official Run in 2026 entry page, which also notes that all dates can change if needed.

The drawing for accepted entries is scheduled for March 4, 2026, when NYRR processes all valid applications and assigns bibs through separate pools for local, national, and international runners. If your name comes up, your credit card on file is charged and your spot is locked in. If not, your card is not charged and you can still chase the race through other entry routes.

You submit your application online through NYRR. The NYRR 2026 entry page lists not only the lottery window but also links to guaranteed entry options, fees, and international packages so you see every route in one place.

When Does New York Marathon Lottery Open Each Year?

The lottery window has moved around slightly over the years, yet it usually falls in late winter. In most recent cycles, NYRR has opened applications between late January and early March and kept the window live for about two to three weeks. The drawing then happens one to two weeks after the window closes.

Looking at the past few years paints a clear picture. For the 2025 race, the application for the non-guaranteed entry drawing runs from February 11 to February 25, 2025, with the drawing held in early March. For the 2024 race, NYRR opened applications on February 28, 2024, and kept them open through March 21 that year. Earlier years show a similar pattern, with 2023 opening on February 8 and 2022 opening on March 9.

So if you want to be ready for any upcoming edition, plan around a February opening, keep an eye on NYRR news from mid-January, and double-check the exact dates the moment they land on the site.

Recent Lottery Opening Dates

The table below gathers recent New York City Marathon lottery windows so you can see how the timing shifts from year to year.

Race Year	Application Window	Drawing Day
2026	February 4–25, 2026	March 4, 2026
2025	February 11–25, 2025	March 5, 2025
2024	February 28–March 21, 2024	March 28, 2024
2023	February 8–22, 2023	March 1, 2023
2022	March 9–23, 2022	Late March 2022
2020	January 30–February 13, 2020	Late February 2020
2019	January 14–February 14, 2019	February 27, 2019

The pattern shows a move from mid-January windows toward February and March in later years, with a few shifts for logistical reasons and the pandemic period. This is why the question “When does New York Marathon lottery open?” never has a single permanent date; you always rely on the current NYRR calendar.

How The New York Marathon Lottery Works

Once the window opens, the process itself is pretty straightforward. You create or log into your NYRR account, submit an application during the stated dates, and wait for the drawing day email. Behind the scenes, NYRR separates applications into three main pools based on residence: New York City metro, rest of the United States, and international.

Who Can Enter The Drawing

You must be at least 18 years old by race day. The marathon accepts runners from across the world as long as they meet age and registration rules. You do not need to be an NYRR member to apply for the general drawing, though members receive some extra perks such as a second-chance drawing in certain years.

NYRR also screens for duplicate applications, so you can only apply once per person in the non-guaranteed pool. If you already hold a guaranteed entry for that year through another method, you skip the general drawing and register through your specific entry path instead.

What It Costs To Throw Your Name In

Submitting your name to the lottery does not require an entry fee upfront. You enter your payment details as part of the application, yet NYRR only charges your card if you are selected on drawing day. That charge covers the full race entry fee for your category.

This “pay only if picked” model is outlined in NYRR materials and repeated by independent marathon guides. It keeps the barrier to entry lower and encourages runners to apply even if they’re also chasing time qualifiers or charity spots. Just make sure your card has enough available credit around drawing day so the charge goes through smoothly.

NYRR explains the process for the non-guaranteed general entry drawing on its official drawing overview, including reminders that dates can change and that entry is not transferable to another year.

What Happens On Drawing Day

On drawing day, NYRR processes all valid lottery entries at once. Successful runners receive an acceptance email and see their credit card charged the race fee. Others receive a notice that they were not selected and are invited to consider charity entry, international tour operators, or future qualifying routes.

The acceptance rate through the lottery is low because the TCS New York City Marathon draws more than 200,000 applicants in some years for a limited number of slots. Running media estimates that only a small share of lottery applicants win a bib, which is why so many runners back up their lottery entry with another plan.

When Does New York Marathon Lottery Open For Different Entry Paths?

The main question “When does New York Marathon lottery open?” usually refers to the general drawing. Yet several other entry routes have their own dates. Some run alongside the lottery window, while others stretch across the whole year before your target race.

Other Ways To Get Into The New York Marathon

If the lottery feels like a coin flip, you’re not stuck. NYRR offers several guaranteed entry paths that require more work, more money, or both, but they remove the randomness once you meet the requirements.

Time Qualifier Entry

Fast runners can bypass the lottery through time qualifier entry. NYRR publishes a detailed list of marathon and half-marathon standards by age and gender for the upcoming race. Times must be run within a specific window, usually the calendar year before the marathon, at approved events.

The marathon time qualifiers list sets out which NYRR races and non-NYRR events count and how fast you need to run. Hitting these marks does not guarantee a spot by itself; you must still apply during the dedicated time qualifier window and submit proof of your result.

NYRR 9+1 Program

Local runners often pick the 9+1 program, which trades miles and volunteering hours for a guaranteed marathon slot the following year. To earn this, you complete nine qualifying NYRR races and volunteer at one eligible event, all in the same calendar year, while keeping an active NYRR membership.

NYRR describes the structure of this path on its 9+1 program page. There you’ll see which races count, what “+1” volunteering looks like, and how to claim the guaranteed entry during the separate application window that usually overlaps with or sits near the lottery dates.

Charity Teams And Philanthropy Entry

Another route runs through official charity partners. Runners commit to raising a set donation amount for an approved organization and, in return, receive guaranteed entry plus coaching and race-week perks from the charity or NYRR partners. Minimum fundraising targets vary by charity and year.

NYRR’s general guaranteed entry overview outlines how charity spots fit alongside time qualifiers and 9+1. For many runners outside the New York area, this mix of fundraising and marathon training turns the race into a personal project that benefits others at the same time.

International Tour Operator Packages

Runners who do not live in the United States full-time can secure a place through approved International Tour Operators (ITOs). These partners bundle guaranteed race entry with travel packages that can include hotel stays and transport options.

The same NYRR 2026 entry page lists ITOs under a dedicated section so overseas runners can book through trusted partners rather than chase their own travel arrangements alongside the stress of the lottery.

Legacy Runners And Canceled Entries

NYRR also grants guaranteed entry to runners who have finished 15 or more New York City Marathons, as well as to some runners who had entries canceled in past disruption years and chose a deferral option. These groups still need to claim their places during special windows, and missing those windows can mean losing that guarantee.

Details shift over time, so runners in these categories should read the latest NYRR guidance each season rather than rely on old race-year rules.

Practical Timeline For Planning Your Entry Year

Getting into the TCS New York City Marathon works better when you map the year out instead of reacting to each deadline as it pops up. Think of your target race year and count backward from the likely lottery window in February, then layer in training, local races, and any fundraising plans.

This section sketches a sample planning arc for someone chasing the 2027 race. You can adjust the months but the flow stays similar: build base fitness, choose your entry path, gather documents, and be ready the moment NYRR opens applications.

Planning Tasks By Timeframe

Use the table below as a planning snapshot so you don’t miss an entry window while juggling training and daily life.

Timeframe Before Race	Main Task	Why It Helps
12–10 months	Choose entry path (lottery, time, 9+1, charity, ITO)	Sets clear targets for races, fundraising, and travel.
10–8 months	Plan qualifying races or charity application	Gives room to repeat a race if weather or illness hits.
8–6 months	Build consistent weekly mileage	Makes later marathon training blocks less stressful.
6–4 months	Complete 9+1 races or hit time standards	Locks in performance-based routes before winter.
4–2 months	Gather documents, update NYRR profile, check card info	Prevents last-minute tech hiccups at application time.
Lottery month	Submit application on day one of the window	Buys time to fix errors before the window closes.
After drawing	Confirm entry or pivot to backup race plan	Keeps your training goal alive even if you miss out.

Common Mistakes That Hurt New York Marathon Lottery Chances

The lottery itself is random, yet some habits make the whole process harder than it needs to be. One common issue is leaving the application to the final day of the window. A browser crash, expired card, or login glitch on that day can block your entry completely.

Another trap is assuming the window matches last year’s dates. As the earlier table showed, NYRR has shifted the calendar more than once, especially during pandemic-affected years. Relying on old dates can leave you waiting for an email that never comes because you never actually applied.

Some runners also forget that a guaranteed entry still needs an application. Time qualifiers, 9+1 finishers, charity runners, and legacy participants all must submit paperwork or online forms during their own windows. Missing that step has ended dreams for runners who had already done the hard work on the roads.

Quick Checklist Before The Lottery Opens

As the next window approaches, you can run through a short pre-lottery checklist so nothing slips:

• Confirm the exact application dates for your target race year on the NYRR site.
• Log into your NYRR account and update contact details and payment information.
• Decide whether you will rely only on the lottery or also chase time, 9+1, charity, or ITO routes.
• Set calendar reminders for both the lottery opening day and the last day of the window.
• Skim the latest rules on the NYRR drawing overview page so you know how pools and notifications work.

With those steps done, you can answer “When does New York Marathon lottery open?” with more than just a date. You’ll know how the whole system fits together, what backup routes exist, and how to act fast once NYRR lifts the curtain on the next application window.