TCS New York City Marathon 9+1 Membership Program
The TCS New York City Marathon is a global sporting event, but it’s also a hometown race, and the 9+1 Pass program exists to give local members a pathway to earning a non-complimentary, guaranteed entry spot in the following year’s TCS New York City Marathon.
2027 9+1 Pass program for 2028 Guaranteed Entry
Beginning with the 2027 9+1 program, access to 9+1 will change. For the first time, entry into the member-only 9+1 program will be determined through a free-to-enter, member-only drawing. Members who are selected will become 9+1 Passholders and have a supported pathway to complete the program requirements for entry to the 2028 TCS New York City Marathon. To be eligible, you must:
- Have an active NYRR membership by September 16, 2026, and through the drawing day on October 1, 2026
- Enter the free-to-enter eligibility drawing between September 17–29, 2026
- The drawing will take place on October 1, 2026.
Members selected in the drawing will be charged $99.00 (including processing fee) and become 9+1 Passholders.
What 9+1 Passholders need to do
To earn non-complimentary, guaranteed entry to the 2028 TCS New York City Marathon, in calendar year 2027, Passholders must do the following:
- Complete nine qualifying NYRR races
- Volunteer at one qualifying opportunity
- Maintain an active NYRR membership as of December 31, 2027
NYRR will help ensure Passholders have a clear path to complete all required races.
What Isn't Changing
If you're currently completing 9+1 in 2026 to earn non-complimentary, guaranteed entry to the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon, nothing changes.
The new drawing process begins with the 2027 9+1 Pass program and will apply to future 9+1 programs. As before, 9+1 Passholders who successfully complete the 9+1 program requirements will receive non-complimentary, guaranteed entry to the 2028 TCS New York City Marathon.
Read more about the 9+1 Pass program.
2026 Program for 2027 Guaranteed Entry
In 2026, there are more than 30 in-person races and there are three virtual races that are eligible for 9+1 program credit toward non-complimentary, guaranteed entry to the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon. In order to complete the 9+1 program and earn non-complimentary, guaranteed entry, runners must:
- Register for and complete 9 qualifying races in 2026; qualifying events will be indicated on each event’s race page
- Volunteer at one +1 qualifying opportunity
- Have an active NYRR membership as of December 31, 2026. Not a member? Join today!
Runners who complete the 2026 9+1 program will be eligible for non-complimentary, guaranteed entry to the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon and will be informed of their status in 2027 prior to the entry claim period. Please note that if you already have entry to the 2027 Marathon through another method, you cannot complete the 2026 program and gain eligibility to the 2027 or later Marathon.
The in-person and virtual 9+1 program qualifying races will be listed on our race calendar, and each race is identified as a 9+1 qualifier on its race page. Races that are open for registration are hyperlinked to their race page; click on each race to learn more and register to run.
The three virtual races are:
- Virtual Resolution Run 5K
- Virtual NYRR Global Running Day 5K
- Virtual NYRR Run for Thanks 5K
- Register for and complete 9 qualifying races
- Volunteer at one +1 qualifying opportunity
- Have an active NYRR membership as of December 31, 2026
Registration for volunteering opportunities are available on our volunteer opportunities page.
FAQs
What are the requirements to complete the 2026 9+1 program?
The requirements are the same as previous years. To earn non-complimentary, guaranteed entry to the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon, runners must:
If I complete the 2026 9+1 program, can I use my non-complimentary guaranteed TCS New York City Marathon entry for 2028 or another future year?
No. Runners who complete the 2026 9+1 program will be eligible for entry only to the 2027 TCS New York City Marathon. Entry will not be rolled forward to 2028 or other future years. If you already have entry to the 2027 Marathon through another method, you cannot complete the 2026 program and gain eligibility to the 2027 or later Marathon.
What are the 2026 9+1 qualifying races?
The in-person and virtual 9+1 program qualifying races will be listed on our race calendar, and each race is identified as a 9+1 qualifier on its race page. Races will be added to the calendar as they are confirmed. Please use the "All race types" filter and select "9+1" to find qualifying races.
How do I earn 9+1 credit for a virtual race?
During virtual race registration, select the Premium tier. Learn more about how to complete virtual races.
What are the +1 volunteer opportunities?
Opportunities can be found on our volunteer opportunities page.
Note: Runners must sign up for and complete their volunteer shift in 2026 and should be aware that opportunities late in 2026 will fill quickly.
Will there be a 2026 4 Out of 6 program for entry to the 2027 United Airlines NYC Half?
Yes. Check back for updates about the 2027 event.
How do I become an NYRR member?
To join or renew your membership, please visit our membership page.
Do I need to be an active NYRR member while I complete the program?
Your membership must be active on December 31, 2026 in order to complete the 2026 9+1 program for non-complimentary, guaranteed entry into 2027. By becoming an NYRR member, you’ll receive discounts to virtual and in-person races, discounts on training, invites to exclusive member events, and more, so we encourage you to join early! To learn more please visit our membership page.