The 2026 New York City Marathon medal features a larger design, marking 50 years of the race. The medal includes a skyline of New York’s five boroughs, shaped like a sunburst. The center medallion remains unchanged, but the skyline adds to its size.

Made of zinc with a gold finish, the medal measures 3.5 inches across. The ribbon design pays homage to the 1970s, featuring the race logo and all five boroughs. The design team spent a year sketching 26 concepts before finalizing the current design. Read more racing coverage.

The 2026 medal honors the growth and resilience of the five boroughs. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the race, which first left Central Park in 1976. The New York Road Runners expect close to 60,000 runners to finish the marathon on Nov. 1. Related: Waukesha Runner Dies at Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.