Jennifer Connelly, Dylan Efron, Antoni Porowski and Tiki Barber are heading to the starting line of the 2026 New York City Marathon. They will be joined by Broadway performers, reality TV stars, musicians and several celebrities who already have plenty of marathon experience.
The race takes place on Sunday, November 1, and the celebrity lineup is unusually entertaining. There is a former NFL star who has run more than 15 marathons, a British endurance athlete attempting 50 marathons in 24 days, and enough Bachelor Nation personalities to fill a television reunion special.
New York Road Runners announced the confirmed lineup on October 13. Organizers expect 60,000 runners to take part in the 26.2-mile race, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the marathon route through all five New York City boroughs.
Several famous participants are raising money for charities. Others are returning to a race they have completed before. We picked out the names worth following, along with some interesting stories behind their decision to run.
Jennifer Connelly Returns to the NYC Marathon for Fred’s Team
Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly is one of the biggest Hollywood names confirmed for November 1.
Connelly, known for films including “A Beautiful Mind,” “Requiem for a Dream” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” will run in support of Fred’s Team, the charity running program benefiting Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
She also participated in the 2025 New York City Marathon. Her return makes her one of the recognizable celebrity runners who have developed an ongoing connection with the event rather than treating it as a one-time appearance.
Fred’s Team raises money for cancer research and patient care through endurance events. The organization has been associated with the New York City Marathon for decades, and its runners include cancer survivors, families and people supporting loved ones affected by the disease.
Connelly has not announced a target finishing time in the official 2026 celebrity release. Her confirmed participation is tied to the charity, so any predictions concerning her pace or final result would be premature.
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Dylan Efron Joins the Race After His Reality TV Success
Dylan Efron has become a recognizable television personality in his own right. Many people first knew him as Zac Efron’s younger brother, but appearances on “The Traitors” and “Dancing with the Stars” introduced him to a much larger audience.
Now he is preparing for the New York City Marathon as part of the New Balance team.
Efron is known for his interest in outdoor activities and physical challenges, so a marathon fits naturally with the athletic side of his public life. Still, covering 26.2 miles through New York presents a very specific challenge. The race includes several bridges, long stretches through crowded neighborhoods and the final miles in Central Park.
Fans hoping to follow Efron should look for his official runner information closer to race day. Celebrity announcements confirm participation, but they do not necessarily include a bib number or a target finishing time.
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Antoni Porowski Is Bringing Queer Eye to the Starting Line
Antoni Porowski is trading the kitchen for a pair of running shoes on November 1.
The “Queer Eye” food and wine expert is among the celebrities officially confirmed for the marathon. Porowski has also appeared in “Best of the World,” adding another television credit to his career outside the Netflix makeover series.
His participation should interest “Queer Eye” viewers who do not normally follow professional running. The New York City Marathon attracts people from entertainment, food, fashion and other industries, and Porowski joins a group of television personalities with large audiences outside sports.
Organizers have not identified a specific charity affiliation for Porowski in their October announcement. His presence on the official list confirms the planned participation, although additional details may emerge before race day.
Tiki Barber Has Already Run More Than 15 Marathons
Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber has a very different relationship with distance running than many celebrities entering their first marathon.
Barber played in the NFL from 1997 through 2006 and later became an enthusiastic endurance runner. He completed his first New York City Marathon in 2014 and has since run more than 15 marathons.
His competitive experience also extends to shorter races. At the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half in March, Barber finished in 1 hour, 51 minutes and 34 seconds, according to the official New York Road Runners results.
That half-marathon performance is a concrete example of his continued involvement in running. Barber is not simply appearing at the race as a former football celebrity. He has spent years competing in distance events since his retirement.
For New York Giants supporters, seeing Barber run through the five boroughs is another reason to pay attention to the celebrity field.
The Bachelor Stars Are Turning Out in Large Numbers
Bachelor Nation will have a particularly large presence at the 2026 race.
Matt James, Tayshia Adams, Joe Amabile, Zac Clark, Hannah Ann Sluss, Blake Horstmann, Greg Grippo and Andrew Spencer are all on the announced celebrity list.
Several have connections to specific organizations. Blake Horstmann is supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Zac Clark is involved with Release Recovery, the addiction recovery organization he founded.
Joe Amabile is also running in support of Release Recovery. The announcement comes after he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, a personal development New York Road Runners included in its October release.
Tayshia Adams will participate with Team Maybelline, which is working with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Hannah Ann Sluss is running with Team Nanit alongside fellow parents.
Matt James is another experienced name. The former Bachelor star has completed multiple New York City Marathons and is also the co-founder of ABC Food Tours, a nonprofit that introduces children to food, fitness and career opportunities.
If you follow reality television, the marathon offers an unusual opportunity to see several personalities from the franchise taking on the same physical challenge.
Survivor, Jersey Shore and Summer House Stars Are Running Too
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The celebrity field extends well outside Bachelor Nation.
“Survivor” season 48 winner Kyle Fraser is running alongside fellow contestant Mitch Guerra. Both are supporting the Chelsea Piers Foundation.
Vinny Guadagnino, known for MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” is also confirmed. “Summer House” cast members Carl Radke and Luke Gulbranson are participating, although their fundraising efforts support separate organizations.
Radke is running for Release Recovery, while Gulbranson is supporting Blood Cancer United.
Former “Dance Moms” star Chloe Lukasiak is taking part for TheaterWorksUSA, which brings professional theater productions and arts education to young audiences.
Fans of “Love Island USA” will recognize Chelley Bissainthe, who joins Team Maybelline, while “Catfish” creator and host Nēv Schulman is among the returning television personalities on the list.
Schulman has a history with the New York City Marathon and has participated in endurance events for years. His experience makes him another celebrity whose race-day performance will be interesting to follow.
William Goodge Is Attempting 50 Marathons in 24 Days
British ultra-endurance athlete William Goodge has one of the most demanding plans associated with the 2026 marathon.
Goodge intends to run 50 marathons across all 50 American states in 24 days, finishing the challenge at the New York City Marathon on November 1.
Completing 50 marathon distances would mean running 1,310 miles, without including the travel required between states. Covering that distance in 24 days would mean averaging more than two marathons per day.
The challenge supports Stand Up To Cancer. It is also worth separating the goal from the achievement. Goodge has announced the attempt, but the result will only be known once he completes the schedule.
Experienced endurance runner and podcaster Rich Roll is another confirmed participant. Roll has built a career discussing endurance sports, nutrition and personal development, making him one of the celebrity entrants with an established audience among recreational runners.
Professional wrestler Darby Allin is taking part for KultureCity, an organization focused on accessibility for people with sensory needs and disabilities.
Broadway Stars Are Bringing Their Own Charity Teams
Broadway performers have their own group of runners in the 2026 marathon.
Tony Award winner Patina Miller is confirmed, along with Erika Henningsen, Merle Dandridge, Jordan Litz and Benjamin Walker.
Henningsen, known for her work in “Mean Girls” and “The Four Seasons,” is supporting Girl Rising, an organization focused on girls and education. Dandridge is running for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Jordan Litz, who has performed as Fiyero in “Wicked,” is also competing. His career connects him to the theater community on both sides of the Atlantic.
Actor and singer Joshua Bassett is participating in support of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. His involvement adds another musician to the event, alongside songwriter and producer Del Water Gap and rapper N.O.R.E.
For the Broadway community, marathon participation has a strong charitable connection. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS supports people facing serious illnesses and financial hardship, giving its participating performers a concrete fundraising purpose.
Casey Neistat, Peloton Instructors and Other Famous Runners
New York filmmaker and YouTuber Casey Neistat is returning to a city where running has been part of his public life for years.
Neistat has documented running, cycling and his experiences on New York streets through online videos. For the 2026 marathon, he is supporting NYRR Team for Kids, which funds youth running and fitness programs.
Peloton will also have several instructors in the field, including Robin Arzón, Mariana Fernández, Hannah Frankson, Alex Karwoski, Zacharias Niedswiecki, Ash Pryor, Camila Ramón and Matt Wilpers.
Millions of Peloton users know some of these instructors from their guided workouts. Seeing them compete in a public road race gives followers a chance to watch them apply their training outside the studio.
Other recognizable participants include comedian Zarna Garg, mentalist Oz Pearlman, former Premier League footballer James Milner and journalist T.J. Holmes.
Milner is supporting the James Milner Foundation, while Pearlman brings an established background in endurance running. In 2025, the mentalist set a record for the most miles run in Central Park within 24 hours.
Which Charities Are the Celebrity Runners Supporting?
Many celebrities are using the marathon to raise funds for organizations they have chosen to support. Some are running for established event charity partners, while others have personal or professional relationships with the organizations.
| Celebrity Runner | Charity or Team |
|---|---|
| Jennifer Connelly | Fred’s Team |
| Joshua Bassett | National Alliance on Mental Illness |
| Casey Neistat | NYRR Team for Kids |
| Dylan Efron | New Balance |
| Blake Horstmann | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
| Carl Radke | Release Recovery |
| Chloe Lukasiak | TheaterWorksUSA |
| Darby Allin | KultureCity |
| William Goodge | Stand Up To Cancer |
| James Milner | James Milner Foundation |
| Merle Dandridge | Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS |
| Kyle Fraser and Mitch Guerra | Chelsea Piers Foundation |
| Luke Gulbranson | Blood Cancer United |
New Balance is listed as a running team affiliation rather than a charity. For some celebrities, organizers have not publicly named a fundraising organization.
New York Road Runners has set a goal of raising $100 million through its Official Charity Partner Program in 2026. The target follows a record $80 million raised through the 2025 marathon by more than 14,000 charity runners.
According to the official anniversary announcement, more than 670 charities are participating in the 2026 program. Donations support causes ranging from medical research to youth programs and education.
A celebrity runner can draw extra attention to a charity, but fundraising is not limited to famous participants. Thousands of runners are collecting donations through family, friends, employers and community supporters.
Where Can You Watch Celebrity Runners at the NYC Marathon?
The 2026 marathon begins on Staten Island and finishes in Central Park after passing through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan.
Every participant covers the same official 26.2-mile course, although starting waves and assigned corrals influence when runners reach each neighborhood.
For spectators hoping to see a particular celebrity, the official runner tracking system is more useful than guessing their arrival time from the professional race schedule.
The official marathon course information includes the route map, aid station locations and race-day details.
Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn offers a long stretch for spectators, while First Avenue in Manhattan is another major viewing area. The crowds near Central Park are especially large as runners approach the final miles.
Celebrity runners may start in different waves, and their actual pace can change considerably during a marathon. Once official bib numbers are available, spectators can use the event tracking service to follow individual participants.
Why the 2026 NYC Marathon Is a Special Edition
New York City held its first marathon in 1970, when runners completed four laps of Central Park. Only 55 people finished that inaugural race.
Six years later, the marathon expanded into all five boroughs for the first time. The change took place during the United States Bicentennial celebrations in 1976 and helped turn the event into an international running attraction.
The 2026 marathon celebrates 50 years since that expansion. New York Road Runners is honoring five figures connected to its history, including Fred Lebow, George Hirsch, George Spitz, Percy Sutton and Ted Corbitt.
The organization has also announced special recognition for the founders as part of its anniversary activities.
For the celebrities taking part, November 1 will be another opportunity to connect with supporters outside their usual careers. For spectators, seeing a familiar actor or television star working through the final miles of a marathon is a different experience from watching them on a screen.
Jennifer Connelly, Dylan Efron, Antoni Porowski, Tiki Barber and the other confirmed participants are preparing to join the race. Their finishing times, charity fundraising results and individual performances will only become known after race day.
