Running the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, earns you more than a medal. Runners can claim more than 15 freebies and discounts across New York right now — free tattoos, free museum admission, free recovery products, discounted attractions and even priority boarding at the airport. Most of them just require showing your medal or race bib.
Here is the full list, with dates, places and codes, so you can plan your race week before the freebies run out.
Free tattoos and recovery treats
Free flash tattoo — Hustle Butter Gallery, SoHo. From November 2–4, 12–6 PM, marathon runners can get a free marathon-inspired flash tattoo at 132 Crosby Street, 4th Floor. Walk-ins only, limited spots — bring your race bib or medal.
Free recovery product — Lush, November 1–3. Show your medal or email confirmation at participating Lush NYC shops (Lexington, Columbus Circle, Upper West Side and Union Square) for a free magnesium product: the After Massage Bar or the Salt Water Soother Bath Bomb, while supplies last. Lush’s Lexington Spa is also offering a $26.20 “Book a Bath” experience — a nod to the 26.2-mile distance — booked in person at the spa.
Free and discounted attractions
Free museum admission — American Museum of Natural History, November 1–8. Runners get free general admission by showing their medal at the ticket desks. That covers more than 40 galleries of natural history.
30% off SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. Runners and up to three family members or friends get 30% off SUMMIT Ascent tickets (up to 4 tickets) with code NYRR2026, valid October 26 to November 8. There is also a sunrise celebration at SUMMIT on Monday, November 2, from 5:00–8:00 AM.
20% off Bronx Zoo Holiday Lights. Use code NYCMARATHON for 20% off Holiday Lights tickets, which this year include a 2-in-1 experience: arrive from 1 PM to see the animals, then stay for the lights.
Airport perks and finish-line tickets
Delta perks at JFK and LaGuardia. On October 29 and 30 from noon, while supplies last, travelers can pick up marathon essentials at stations near baggage claim, and friends and family can use sign-making stations. On November 1 and 2, departing marathon runners get priority boarding through Delta’s “Marathoners’ Zone 1,” and gate announcements will recognize finishers.
350 free finish-line grandstand tickets. New York City and New York Road Runners are giving away 350 free tickets to the marathon grandstand at the Central Park finish line through an online drawing. Entry is open until October 26 at 11:59 PM, winners get up to two tickets each, and finish-line grandstand seats normally start at $55.
The race itself
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1, with nearly 60,000 runners expected and more than two million spectators anticipated. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic five-borough, 26.2-mile course, which expanded from Central Park loops to all five boroughs in 1976.
One tip that applies to almost every offer above: keep your medal and your bib. Most freebies require showing one or the other, and some — like the tattoo and the museum entry — are strictly first-come, first-served.
FAQ
When is the 2026 NYC Marathon? Sunday, November 1, 2026, across all five boroughs of New York City.
What freebies do NYC Marathon runners get? A free flash tattoo, free museum admission, free Lush recovery products, discounted attractions, airport perks from Delta, and a chance at free finish-line grandstand tickets.
What do I need to claim the freebies? In most cases, your finisher’s medal or race bib — and for some offers, your email confirmation.
When does the free grandstand ticket drawing close? October 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
Sources
- https://secretnyc.co/2026-tcs-nyc-marathon-freebies-discounts/
- https://Www.NYRR.org/tcsnycmarathon/2026-tcs-new-york-city-marathon-beyond-the-finish-line
- https://parade.com/news/delta-nyc-marathon-runner-perks-airport
- https://www.6sqft.com/mamdani-free-tickets-to-nyc-marathon-finish-line/