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For nearly 60 years, the New York Marathon has brought the city together to watch and cheer on runners traveling through all five boroughs, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. In fact, the marathon has open registration for anyone to sign up and participate, even celebrities.
In the past, famous New Yorkers have raced, so it’s fun to see which celebrities are throwing on a pair of running shoes to race with the public this year.
How to Watch 2026 New York Marathon Live Online, at a Glance:
- Date: Nov. 1
- Local Network: ABC7 New York
- National Network: ESPN
- Online Streaming: DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, ESPN Unlimited
When Does the 2026 New York Marathon Start?
The New York Marathon takes place on Sunday (Nov. 1), with the city-wide race starting at 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT.
What TV Networks Feature the 2026 New York Marathon?
In 2026, the New York Marathon broadcasts across two networks: ABC7NY, locally and ESPN, nationally. Meanwhile, It’s available to livestream on ESPN Unlimited.
Which Celebrities Are Running in the 2026 New York Marathon?
The New York Marathon is known for celebrity sightings with a number of famous actors, actresses and recording artists participating in the race. Artists who have been known to run in the past, include Action Bronson, Kevin Hart, Prince Royce, Jennifer Connelly, Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, AEW star Darby Allin and others.
Meanwhile, it’s likely that Harry Styles might run in the 2026 New York Marathon. His residency at Madison Square Garden ends the night before on Saturday (Oct. 31) and he’s been spotted all over the city running over the last few months.
Where to Watch the 2026 New York Marathon Live Online for Free
For cord-cutters, there are a few ways to watch the New York Marathon, if you don’t have cable, especially if you want to watch for free. DirecTV has a five-day free trial, while other streaming services, such as Fubo and Hulu + Live TV, offer free trials, so you can watch for free.
A subscription to DirecTV gets you access to live TV, local and cable channels, including ABC7NY and ESPN, at $59.99 per month for the first month of service ($89.99 per month afterward). The service even offers a five-day free trial to watch for free, if you sign up now. It comes with access to ESPN Unlimited too for even more ESPN networks.
Sling TV offers the Orange & Blue plan, which comes with ABC7NY and ESPN. With more than 50 channels, the streaming plan goes for $69.99 per month. All plans come with a free cloud DVR and an extra 600 or so free channels too. Please note: Pricing and channel availability vary from market-to-market.
UNLIMITED DVR
FuboTV
Fubo is an affordable option offering a five-day free trial for new users who sign up.
Fubo starts at $63.99 for the first month ($88.99 per month afterward) with more than 230 channels, including local and cable, like ABC7NY and ESPN, that are streamable on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and on web browsers. And with a five-day free trial, you can watch for free, if you act fast and sign up now.
Broadcast and cable networks ABC7NY and ESPN are available to watch with Hulu + Live TV. Prices for the cable alternative start at $99.99 per month for more than 100 live channels, while each plan comes with Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN Select at no additional cost. Hulu + Live TV might be best for those who want all of these streaming services together in one package. The service includes a three-day free trial.
ESPN Unlimited is the official streaming platform for ESPN. A subscription includes instant access for $31.99 per month. However, you can save almost 17% off by purchasing an annual subscription for $319.99 per year. It features every ESPN network, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACC Network Extra — all in one streaming service.
In addition to live sports, ESPN Unlimited has original programming to stream on demand. Although the service doesn’t offer a free trial, you can still watch ESPN Unlimited with a clever workaround to watch online for free. Learn more about how to get a free trial to access ESPN Unlimited here.
On Sunday (Nov. 1), the New York Marathon broadcasts across on ABC7NY and ESPN. One of the best ways to watch live is with DirecTV.
