There are medals that end up stored in a drawer and others that tell a story. The medal for the TCS New York City Marathon 2026 belongs to the latter category. The organizing club, New York Road Runners, has unveiled the design that finishers will receive when they cross the finish line on November 1. It will be the largest medal in the history of the New York City Marathon, minted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the course through the city’s five boroughs. Before 1976, the race took place entirely in Central Park.
Measuring nearly nine centimeters, the medal is made of zinc with a gold finish. Its most striking element is a circular silhouette of the New York skyline, crafted as rays of sunlight and integrated with five iconic bridges: Verrazzano-Narrows, Pulaski, Queensboro, Willis Avenue, and Madison Avenue.
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From 55 runners to a historic marathon
To understand the medal’s meaning, you have to go back to 1970. The inaugural edition brought together a mere 55 runners who completed a loop inside Central Park. Six years later, on October 24, 1976, the race left the park to traverse the five boroughs. Two thousand ninety athletes participated, and everyone who crossed the finish line received an official medal.
Since then, New York has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. In 2025, 59,226 runners crossed the finish, a historic record for a marathon. For the 2026 edition, more than 240,000 people applied for a spot, though only a small portion secured entry through the lottery.
This year’s medal precisely celebrates that journey: five decades of growth, resilience, and a passion for running. Because finishing New York has always meant more than completing 42.195 kilometers. In 2026, it will also mean bringing home a piece of its history.