2026 RBC Brooklyn Half

The excitement begins at the RBC Brooklyn Half Expo Presented by New Balance, where runners come together for course strategy sessions, gear, and more (location will be announced soon). Once you cross the finish line, celebrate your achievement at the RBC Brooklyn Half After-Party at Maimonides Park. Proudly reppin’ Brooklyn since 1981, this is the original half marathon in the Borough of Kings and one of the largest in the country!

Mark your calendar! 

• The guaranteed entry claim period and general non-guaranteed application period opened on January 6 and closed on January 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 
• Applications for non-NYRR time qualifiers opened on January 6 and closed on January 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET.  For more information, please review our full policy here. Those accepted will have their credit card charged and will be notified of their acceptance via email before the drawing takes place on January 23. 
• The drawing will take place on January 23. 
• To learn more about how to gain entry to the RBC Brooklyn Half, visit here.

The Virtual RBC Brooklyn Half event will take place May 9–17 and will focus on bringing the in-person race experience to runners everywhere. 

Two entry options: 

• Medal: $55 for members / $65 for non-members 
• Love of Running: $20 for members / $30 for non-members 

Registration for the Virtual RBC Brooklyn Half will open on February 18.

Kids of all abilities and ages 2 to 18 are welcome to join the Boardwalk Kids Run at the RBC Brooklyn Half race-day fun. Registration is required and completely FREE—made possible by the generosity of our community. Visit the event webpage to sign up and learn more.

If you are an Athlete with Disability who needs a guide or support runner to participate in a NYRR event, please follow the process explained here. To request to register a support runner, the runner must fill out a form. Check back soon for more information on the form.

RBC Brooklyn Half runners are assigned to corrals and waves based on the best pace attached to their NYRR account or estimated finish time they submitted with their registration (new runners to NYRR).

Runners who wish to submit a faster half marathon race result, which could qualify them for an assignment to an earlier start wave, must do so by May 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET, following these guidelines: 

• Submit request to: https://help.nyrr.org/s/contactsupport
• Runners must provide the official race link (URL) from an in-person, certified half marathon completed between January 20, 2026 and May 1, 2026. Race results from indoor half marathons, virtual half marathons, triathlons, shorter distances and training runs will not be considered. Personal times through Strava or a GPS device (e.g. Garmin, Apple Watch) will not be accepted.

Please note:  

• Runners will NOT be able to request a wave change at the RBC Brooklyn Half Expo.
• Corral changes will not be considered.
• The NYRR BK 5K is the final NYRR race that updates best pace. 
• Runners will receive a checklist email that will include wave and corral placement.

Check out our training resources that'll help you prepare for race day.

• In-person Group Training, geared toward local New York City runners who enjoy running with others
• Virtual training through NYRR x Runna, the world's top-rated running coach app, to train anywhere, anytime
• Free training guides and tips through our Runner Resources

NYRR offers Protecht, a refund program that provides registration fee protection on all paid events. This includes races and Group Training, and it will protect NYRR x Runna fees if it is an add-on to a race. To learn more, click here.

Athletes who meet certain time standards are eligible for entry via the Seeded Athlete program, a race-day experience that provides a preferred starting position and expedited baggage collection at the finish.

For inclusion in the program, athletes must have met one of the established time standards below in a half-marathon held between January 1, 2025 and March 29, 2026. Questions about the Seeded Athlete program and requests for consideration can be sent to eliteathletes@nyrr.org. The deadline to request a spot in the 2026 program is Friday, April 10, 2026.

We at New York Road Runners believe running should be accessible to everyone. To help, we created NYRR Race Free to provide race fee assistance to those who qualify financially.

In 2026, we will offer 1,000 spots in the NYRR Race Free Program and more than 3,000 complimentary race entries, including entry for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon. Accepted NYRR Race Free participants will receive up to 6 complimentary entries to our weekly races and the opportunity to access training for free.

The 2026 application period is now closed. We invite you to apply for the 2027 NYRR Race Free program, which is expected to open in October 2026. Please visit the NYRR Race Free page for updates.

NYRR strives to host inclusive, sustainable, and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage. To request reasonable accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility for attending this event, please email accessibility@nyrr.org.

To learn more about NYRR accessibility, please visit the NYRR Disability Inclusion & Accessibility Resource page.

• Review the NYRR policy on start and finish cutoff times here.
• Runners can register as woman, man, or nonbinary. Visit our FAQ page for more information on how to update your profile.
• If you wish to pay in cash for your race entry, please reach out to our Runner Services team for assistance. Please be sure to include the event name and the email associated with your NYRR account.
• This race is a 9+1 program qualifier.

Join Team for Kids to get guaranteed entry, expert coaching, and the opportunity to help keep kids healthy and fit. 

Join NYRR Team for Climate to help NYRR continue its journey to Net Zero by 2040. 

The 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half International Tour Operator program partners with travel agencies across the globe to create race packages with guaranteed entry along with flight and/or hotel. Learn more here.

Runners who do not have guaranteed entry to the race have the opportunity to enter the non-guaranteed entry drawing during the application period from January 6 to January 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

The entries available to non-guaranteed applicants will be filled through three drawings, one in each of the following applicant pools: 

1. "NYC metro area” applicants: Residents in and within 60 miles of New York City
 
2. "National” applicants: U.S. residents outside of the NYC metro area, including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories 
3. “International” applicants: Non-U.S. residents 

The drawing for the 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half will occur on January 23, 2026. 

Please note: Handcycle and push-rim applicants should apply to the non-guaranteed entry drawing.

Current members of New York Road Runners who meet the eligibility criteria below and apply to the non-guaranteed general entry drawing will automatically be entered into the NYRR Member-Only Second-Chance Drawing for the 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half. 

Eligibility: To be eligible, your membership must be active on January 5 (the day before the drawing application opens) and remain active through the RBC Brooklyn Half drawing day, January 23. All NYRR members who meet these requirements will automatically be included in the Member-Only Second-Chance Drawing. 

Selection: Following the general entry drawing on January 23, all eligible NYRR members who were not selected for entry will be placed in the Member-Only Second Chance Drawing, which will occur the same day. Members who are selected in the Second-Chance Drawing will be informed via email of their selection before the end of the day after both drawings have concluded. 

Second-Chance Drawing winners will be automatically charged and registered into the race.

The RBC Brooklyn Half Expo Presented by New Balance will take place at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside. Race number pickup will be available at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, May 13: 10:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (last bib pickup is at 8:00 p.m)
• Thursday, May 14: 10:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (last bib pickup is at 8:00 p.m)
• [LAST DAY] Friday, May 15: 8:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (last bib pickup is 6:00 p.m)

No need to select a time slot—drop in at your leisure during open hours and experience this new destination in the heart of Prospect Park. It brings everything you love about the pre-race experience together in one vibrant, one-of-a-kind setting.

While you’re there visit the RBC Hype Zone, where runners can transform race-week excitement into art through an interactive photo moment and score daily exclusive giveaways.

If you are unable to pick up your race number during the regular pickup hours you can have a friend or family member do so. Please make sure they have a copy of your email confirmation form, and a copy of your photo ID.

Find your name on the #RBCBrookynHalf Runner Wall Presented by TCS and stock up on Maurten products, other race day needs, and more at Runner Essentials. The Expo is open to the public.

Help out our environment by biking or taking the subway to the Expo! Conveniently located near the B, Q, and S lines. Please note that bikes will not be allowed in the tent, but bike racks are available at the entrance of LeFrak Center at Lakeside. Disclaimer: Bike racks are public, and NYRR is not responsible for racked bikes.

There will be 10 fluid stations along the course:

• All 10 Stations: Gatorade Endurance Formula and water
• Mile 6.8 (Station 5): Maurten Gel Depot will be available (caffeinated and non-caffeinated).

We strongly advise that you carry your own fuel, in addition to using the Maurten Gel Depot to supplement your fueling. Please note the number of gels available on course is limited and is not guaranteed. Please be respectful of the runners who come behind you. We recommend taking one gel per Gel Depot.

In case of a medical emergency during the race (including in the start or finish area), call 866-705-6626.

For friends and family who would like to check on runners who have received medical assistance during the race, please call the dedicated race day medical information hotline at 855-697-7786.

The NYRR Pace Team members are some of the most experienced runners in New York City and the most knowledgeable runners on the course. They hit their target finish time 96.5% of the time. Pacers will be on hand to guide participants toward specific goal times over the 13.1 miles. Pace Team members will lead groups at various paces between 6:06 per mile and 14:52 per mile (between a 1:20 finish and a 3:15 finish).

If you choose to run with a pace group, you can look for the NYRR Pace Team members in the start corrals wearing their blue-and-white-striped NYRR Pace Team singlets. Each Team member will carry signs that correspond with their respective finish times and paces. There is no fee or sign-up required to run or with the pace team. 

Check back closer to race day for more details.

As in previous years, NYRR will transport personal nursing pumps from the start to the finish area for athletes. For the RBC Brooklyn Half, there will be lactation spaces that provide pumping accommodations and amenities at the start, course, and finish lines. Medela breast pumps will also be available, giving participants easy options for pumping. 

Lactation operations will be located near the start medical tent on Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue, the medical tent near mile 8, and the finish medical tent in the Maimonides Park parking lot. 

To ensure runners are aware of the accommodations and preparation for medical device operations, NYRR will have an information booth at the RBC Brooklyn Half Expo. 

For a full list of Prohibited Items, please click here. 

All prize money amounts, including team prize money, are equal for men, women, and nonbinary categories and subject to all applicable rules and policies regarding prize money. To be eligible for prize money, including team money and top Brooklyn finisher, runners must complete the course in 1 hour 30 minutes or faster.  

Top Brooklyn Finisher 

The top man, woman, and nonbinary finisher from Brooklyn, based on Net Time, will be awarded $500. Residency is determined by zip code at the time of registration. Cumulative with overall prize money, if applicable. 

Time Bonuses 

Team Prize Money 

For scoring purposes, a men’s team must consist of five men, a women’s team must consist of five women, and a nonbinary team must consist of three nonbinary athletes, all running with the same team affiliation and meeting the gender identity requirements above. Team prize money is based on the cumulative Net Time of the team members. 

Awards will be presented on site to the top three finishers in the overall men, women, and nonbinary divisions. Runners who place in the top three of their age group will be able to claim an award in the days following the race by filling out our Age-Group Awards Claim Form.  

Runner tracking and live, unofficial results will be available in the NYRR Racing App and at liveresults.nyrr.org during the event. 

After the conclusion of the event, official results will be posted on results.nyrr.org. 

Celebrate your achievement at the RBC Brooklyn Half After-Party at Maimonides Park. Proudly reppin’ Brooklyn since 1981, this is the original half marathon in the Borough of Kings and one of the largest in the country.

Check back closer to race day for more details.

1. Credit card charges: You will see a charge to your credit card for the race-entry fee. If your credit card is charged for the full race fee, you have been accepted into the race. You may be charged before you receive an email confirming your status or before your status changes in your NYRR account.

Please note: Your card must have an expiration date of February 2026 or later.

If you are selected in the drawing and your credit card is declined, you will be notified via email and given until January 28 at 11:59 p.m. to update your default credit card in your NYRR dashboard. We will periodically attempt to process and finalize your registration again through January 29.

If you have not updated your payment method and been successfully charged by January 29, you will be moved to not selected.

2. Status in your NYRR account: If you have been accepted into the race, your status will change to "Accepted” by end of day Friday, January 23.

3. Email: Whether you have been accepted or not, you will receive an email indicating your status by the end of day Friday, January 23.

Once a runner has claimed their entry, or once a drawing applicant has been accepted into the race, all entry fees are non-refundable. Runners entered in the 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half may cancel their entry and earn guaranteed, non-complimentary entry to the 2027 race, but they will be responsible for claiming their entry and paying the entry fees for the 2027 race. The deadline for runners to cancel their 2026 entry and get guaranteed non-complimentary into the 2027 race is May 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For more information, visit our cancellation page. 

Please note: Runners who earn guaranteed entry to the 2026 race because they canceled in 2025 cannot cancel a second time (in 2026) and become eligible for guaranteed entry in 2027. 

No Refunds: Entry fees are non-refundable and may not be deferred or transferred. 

The 4 Out of 6 program allows NYRR members who meet the eligibility requirements to gain guaranteed entry to the United Airlines NYC Half. 

Eligibility for entry to the 2027 United Airlines NYC Half will be guaranteed for NYRR members who complete four qualifying events in 2026 and have an active membership by the last qualifying event of the 2026 4 Out of 6 program (the NYRR Staten Island Half in October).