.png)
New York City Half Marathon 2027: Course, Entry & Race Guide
Updated: Oct 1
The United Airlines NYC Half is one of the most spectacular half marathons in the world. Starting in Brooklyn and finishing in Central Park, its 13.1 miles take runners across the Brooklyn Bridge, along the FDR Drive, through the heart of Manhattan and into Times Square before the final run towards the finish.
More than 30,000 runners took part in 2026, making this one of the biggest half marathons in the United States as well as one of the hardest to enter. If you want a half marathon that feels like a major city marathon condensed into 13.1 miles, there are very few races that can compete.
The United Airlines NYC Half
The United Airlines NYC Half is organised by New York Road Runners, the organisation behind the TCS New York City Marathon and many of New York's biggest running events. First held in 2006, the race has developed into an internationally recognised event attracting recreational runners and some of the world's leading athletes.
The race was originally held during the summer before moving to March in 2010. One of the attractions is that this isn't simply a half marathon taking place somewhere in New York. The route has been designed around the city, giving runners the opportunity to experience locations that would normally be packed with traffic. Brooklyn Bridge, FDR Drive and Times Square all form part of a course that could only really exist in New York.
When Is The New York City Half Marathon?
The United Airlines NYC Half takes place annually in March. The 2026 race was held on Sunday 15 March with.a date not yet confirmed for 2027.
March can produce very different conditions in New York, so runners need to prepare for the possibility of a cold start. Waiting around before the race can feel considerably colder than running through Manhattan later in the morning, making old clothes or additional disposable layers particularly useful.
The New York City Half Marathon Course
The course is one of the main reasons the United Airlines NYC Half is so popular. It starts in Brooklyn, crosses the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and then works its way north through the city before finishing in Central Park.
Don't assume that a sightseeing course means an easy one. There are climbs to deal with, particularly during the Brooklyn section and across the bridge, while the undulations of Central Park arrive just when tired legs would prefer something flatter.
The Start In Brooklyn
The current United Airlines NYC Half course begins near Prospect Park in Brooklyn, giving runners a very different introduction to New York from the Manhattan landmarks that dominate the second half of the race. The opening miles take runners through Prospect Park before looping around Grand Army Plaza and continuing along Flatbush Avenue, passing Barclays Center on the journey towards Lower Manhattan. Do not expect the opening miles to be completely flat. Prospect Park introduces some early elevation changes, and with the excitement of race morning it can be easy to run harder than planned. Keeping your effort controlled through Brooklyn should leave you in a much better position for the bridge and the second half of the race.
Running Across The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge became part of the NYC Half course for the first time in 2025, replacing the previous crossing of the Manhattan Bridge, and it returned for the 2026 race. Runners approach the bridge at around four miles, making one of New York's most famous landmarks a relatively early highlight of the half marathon. Running across the roadway is a very different experience from walking across the busy pedestrian section as a visitor. There are superb views towards Manhattan, but there is also a noticeable climb. Rather than trying to maintain the same pace you were running on flatter roads, keep your effort controlled and allow the gradient to dictate your speed. After crossing the East River, runners arrive in Lower Manhattan and begin the next part of their journey through the city.
The FDR Drive And Manhattan's East Side
After the Brooklyn Bridge, the course takes runners onto the FDR Drive for the journey north along Manhattan's East Side. Running along a major New York road normally filled with traffic adds another unusual element to the race, with views towards the East River accompanying much of this section. The atmosphere can be quieter here than in Brooklyn or Midtown, making it a useful opportunity to concentrate on your own running. Settle back into your planned effort after the bridge and avoid pushing simply because there is more open road ahead. At around nine miles, runners leave the FDR Drive and head towards East 42nd Street near the United Nations. From here, the character of the race changes dramatically.
Running Through Midtown Manhattan
The route along 42nd Street takes runners into the heart of Midtown and past some of New York's most recognisable landmarks. Grand Central Terminal is directly on the route, while the Chrysler Building forms part of the surrounding skyline.
After the more exposed section along the FDR Drive, the buildings and crowds of Midtown bring a very different atmosphere. You are also well into the second half of the race by now, so this is where sensible pacing earlier in Brooklyn and across the bridge can begin to pay off. The course then heads towards Seventh Avenue and one of the experiences that makes the NYC Half unlike almost any other half marathon.
Running Through Times Square
Running through Times Square is one of the defining moments of the United Airlines NYC Half. Streets normally packed with traffic, taxis and visitors are cleared as runners travel through one of the most famous parts of Manhattan. New York Road Runners says the NYC Half is one of only two occasions each year when Times Square is closed to traffic. Giant screens, theatres and skyscrapers surround the course, while large crowds add to the atmosphere as runners make their way north. It is a section worth taking in, particularly if this is your first race in New York. There is still work to do, however, because Central Park and its rolling roads are waiting towards the end of the course.
Central Park And The Finish
After Times Square, runners continue north before entering Central Park for the final section of the race. The park provides an appropriately memorable setting for the finish, but its roads are not completely flat.The undulations can feel considerably harder after more than ten miles than they would during an easy training run. Runners who have controlled their effort through Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and Midtown should be better placed to handle the final miles. The finish in Central Park completes an extraordinary journey through New York. Over 13.1 miles, the current course connects two of the city's great parks while taking runners across the Brooklyn Bridge, along the FDR Drive and through Midtown and Times Square before the final run to the finish.
Is There A Race Expo?
Runners should expect to collect their race materials before race day at the official United Airlines NYC Half Experience.
If you are travelling to New York specifically for the race, build packet collection into your itinerary rather than leaving your schedule too tight. NYRR publishes the current requirements and collection arrangements as race weekend approaches.
Aid Stations
New York Road Runners provides fluid and medical support around the course, with exact locations published in the race information for each edition. Runners should check the current race guide before race day rather than relying on previous years, as locations and products can change.
Even with organised course support, practise your hydration and fuelling strategy during training. Don't introduce an unfamiliar drink or energy product simply because it happens to be available during the race.
What Is The Crowd Support Like?
Crowd support varies considerably around the route. Some sections, particularly around Midtown and Times Square, can be extremely lively, while stretches such as the FDR Drive naturally have fewer spectators.
The contrast actually adds to the experience. There are periods where you can concentrate on your running followed by sections where the noise and crowds make it difficult not to speed up.
What Makes The NYC Half Special?
Plenty of half marathons take place in great cities, but very few use their city as effectively as this one. Running across Brooklyn Bridge, along roads normally filled with traffic, through Times Square and finishing in Central Park gives the event a sense of occasion well beyond the distance itself.
It also offers a very different experience from the New York City Marathon. The marathon is the bigger event and travels through all five boroughs, but the half marathon concentrates many of New York's most recognisable sights into a much shorter route through Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Can You Run The NYC Half For Charity?
The United Airlines NYC Half has an official charity programme and this can be one of the best options for runners who miss out through the general drawing. Official Charity Partners receive guaranteed entries that are allocated to runners in return for committing to a fundraising target.
The amount you need to raise depends on the charity, so don't assume there is a single fundraising requirement across the entire programme.
Charity places can fill quickly because they provide guaranteed entry into an event where demand is considerably higher than the number of places available. If you are already considering combining the NYC Half with fundraising, it is worth investigating the charity route early.
How To Get A Place In The New York City Half Marathon 2027
Getting into the United Airlines NYC Half can be almost as challenging as training for it. Runners without guaranteed entry can apply through the general entry process, with separate applicant pools for runners from the New York City metro area, other US residents and international runners.
There are several routes to guaranteed or potential entry. NYRR members can earn guaranteed entry for the following year's race through the 4 Out of 6 programme by completing four eligible events and meeting the membership requirements. Qualifying performances can also provide a route into the event, although different rules apply depending on whether the qualifying time was achieved at an NYRR event or elsewhere.
Official Charity Partners provide guaranteed entries to runners agreeing to the relevant fundraising commitment, while international runners can also obtain guaranteed entry through participating official International Tour Operators by purchasing an eligible travel package.
Always check the current requirements directly with New York Road Runners before making travel arrangements.
Where To Stay
New York has an enormous choice of accommodation, but hotel prices can be high and major race weekends add extra demand. Staying in Manhattan gives you easy access to restaurants, attractions and public transport, with Midtown offering one of the widest selections of hotels and excellent subway connections across the city.
Because the NYC Half starts in Brooklyn and finishes in Central Park, there is no single location that puts you conveniently beside both ends of the race. Staying in Manhattan can make the journey back after finishing particularly straightforward, while good subway connections make it possible to travel to Brooklyn on race morning. Alternatively, staying in Brooklyn can give you an easier start to race day, although you will have further to travel after the finish.
Wherever you choose, check your race-morning transport options before booking rather than simply looking for the hotel closest to the course. If you are extending your visit beyond the race, also consider which area works best for the rest of your time in New York.
Our Verdict
The United Airlines New York City Half Marathon 2027 deserves its reputation as one of the world's great half marathons. There are bigger races and there are faster courses, but few can match the experience of starting in Brooklyn, running across Brooklyn Bridge, heading through Times Square and finishing in Central Park.
It isn't necessarily a course we would choose purely for chasing a half marathon PB. The climbs, huge field and temptation to look around rather than concentrate on pace all work against that. But that rather misses the point of this event. The NYC Half is about experiencing New York in a way that is normally impossible.
If you want to combine a major running event with a trip to one of the world's great cities, this belongs near the top of the list. And if you are planning to raise money for charity, the guaranteed-entry charity programme can turn that fundraising commitment into an opportunity to run one of the most sought-after half marathons anywhere in the world.
Race website
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, Sapphire Running Zone may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Comments