The New York City Marathon continues to make history. The 2026 edition registered 61,147 finishers (including 574 Spaniards), surpassing for the first time the 60,000 barrier of runners who complete the traditional 42.195 kilometers. A figure that opens a new landscape for the major road races and raises a question: where is the limit?
New York leads a ranking in which London and Paris also stand out. The British marathon reached 59,851 finishers in 2026, while the French event counted 57,495. Three races that confirm the enormous growth in participation at the world’s major running events.
The increase compared to 2025 is also significant. New York rose from 59,000 to 61,147 finishers, London grew from 56,640 to 59,851, and Paris climbed from 55,499 to 57,495. Not surprisingly, London has already announced a two-day marathon event for 2027 with more than 100,000 participants across Saturday and Sunday.
IS THERE A LIMIT?
But growth does not necessarily mean there is no ceiling. The capacity of the starting corrals, the density of runners at certain stretches, the aid stations, medical services, and the logistics of the host cities are factors that shape the size of these events.
In the same week in which the Barcelona Marathon reached 37,000 registrations, setting a new record in Spain, the challenge for organizers will be to continue increasing participation without compromising the athletes’ experience or the safety of an event that each year brings tens of thousands of people together.
