NYC Marathon Weekend 2026: A Night-Out Plan for Runners and Their Cheer Squads

NYC Marathon weekend 2026 is a strange, great collision. The race is Sunday, November 1, starting at 8 AM. The night before is Halloween, on a Saturday. And the clocks fall back at 2 AM in between. If you're running, Sunday night is your celebration. If you're cheering, you've got two nights to work with, and Starlets in Woodside, Queens is open from 11 PM to 4 AM on both of them.

Written by the Starlets team in Woodside, Queens.

It's a big one this year, too. 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the marathon's five-borough course.

Runners: Saturday is Halloween. Go to bed.

We say this as a place that's open until 4 AM: if you're running on Sunday, skip Saturday night. Seriously.

The good news is the calendar is on your side. Daylight saving time ends at 2 AM on Sunday, November 1, so the clocks go back an hour while you sleep. That's a free extra hour before an 8 AM start. Use it. Your Halloween costume will still fit next year.

Save the night out for after you've crossed the finish line, when you've actually earned it.

Where the marathon runs through Queens

Queens gets the race right around the halfway point. Runners cross the Pulaski Bridge from Brooklyn into Queens at mile 13.1. The bridge itself is closed to spectators, so fans cheer on the Queens side, just past halfway. Time Out lists the 7, G and E trains for getting there.

From there the route runs through Long Island City and leaves Queens over the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, which is also closed to spectators. The finish is in Central Park, at 67th Street on West Drive.

If your runner is aiming to see you, the Queens side is a smart early spot. Cheer at halfway, then get yourself to Manhattan for the back half.

Sunday night is the real celebration

You ran 26.2 miles through five boroughs. Of course you're going out.

Sunday at Starlets is Startender Sundays: doors at 11 PM, open until 4 AM, at 49-09 25th Ave in Woodside. That gives you the whole afternoon and evening to shower, eat everything, nap, and get your legs working again before you head out. Check the Startender Sundays listing for the entry details on November 1.

Book the table ahead of time. Standing around is the last thing anybody wants after a marathon:

• A VIP Reservation is reserved seating with table service, good for a runner and a small crew.
• If it's somebody's birthday weekend too, the Birthday VIP Table comes with a bottle minimum and a shout-out from the booth.
• Running clubs and big groups can ask about a Custom Event Buyout, a full or partial buyout of the venue for a private party or after-party. It's quoted per event.

Email management@starletsnyc.com with the date, a rough headcount, and the fact that you just ran a marathon. People like hearing that.

For the cheer squad: you get Saturday night

Friends and family who flew in to cheer have no reason to sit in the hotel on Halloween. Saturday at Starlets is Brides of Chucky, the last night of the club's Halloween Week, doors at 11, and October 31 is about as good a Saturday night as New York gets. If you land earlier in the week, Halloween Week also has Sinners on Wednesday, The Starlets CarnEVIL on Thursday, and The Gothic Purge on Friday. Our Halloween 2026 night plan covers the Village parade, the clock change, and what to know about costumes at the door.

Just be honest with yourself about the alarm. If you're planning to be at mile 13.1 in Queens on Sunday morning, a 4 AM finish on Saturday is a choice.

A NYC Marathon weekend 2026 plan, hour by hour

Here's how we'd run the weekend if we were coming in for it:

• Saturday afternoon: runners rest, the cheer squad explores.
• Saturday night: runners asleep by 10. The cheer squad does Halloween, and anyone heading to Starlets gets there for 11.
• Sunday, 2 AM: the clocks fall back. Everyone gets an hour back, whether they're asleep or not.
• Sunday, 8 AM: the race starts.
• Sunday midday: the cheer squad catches the halfway point on the Queens side of the Pulaski Bridge, then heads for Manhattan.
• Sunday evening: eat, shower, nap. In that order or any order.
• Sunday, 11 PM: Startender Sundays. Medal optional, but we'd wear it.

Getting around on marathon weekend

Sunday morning, expect road closures along the course and plan around them. For Sunday night in Woodside, the late-night math is the same as always. The buses near the club finish by about 1:40 AM, so book a car home. Starlets is about 1.8 miles from LaGuardia Terminal B in a straight line, which is handy if you're flying out Monday. The getting to Starlets guide has the nearest stations and bus routes.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2026 NYC Marathon?

Sunday, November 1, 2026, starting at 8 AM.

Where can I watch the NYC Marathon in Queens?

On the Queens side of the Pulaski Bridge, just past the halfway mark at mile 13.1. The bridge itself is closed to spectators. The 7, G and E trains serve the area.

Do the clocks change on NYC Marathon weekend 2026?

Yes. Daylight saving time ends at 2 AM on Sunday, November 1, the morning of the race.

Where can runners celebrate after the NYC Marathon?

Starlets in Woodside, Queens is open Sunday night from 11 PM to 4 AM for Startender Sundays. It's 21+, and tables are booked by request.

Can a running club book a private party at Starlets?

Yes. Ask about a Custom Event Buyout through the services page. It's quoted per event.