Celebrities Join 2026 New York City Marathon

More than 50 celebrities are participating in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon on November 1, joining thousands of runners across New York City for the 26.2-mile race. Dylan Efron, Carl Radke, Chloé Lukasiak and Jennifer Connelly are among the recognizable names taking on the annual endurance event.

The race is expected to take place in temperatures around 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Other participants include reality television personalities from The Bachelor, Summer House and The Challenge, according to E! News.

Cory Wharton is running in support of The Children's Heart Foundation, turning his marathon participation into a fundraising effort for people affected by heart conditions. His motivation is also personal, as his four-year-old daughter Maya has a heart condition.

Despite having limited experience running for longer than approximately an hour at a time, Wharton has set a target of completing the race in under five hours. He discussed his preparation and charitable commitment in an exclusive interview with E! News.

"I'm just happy that I get the chance to run and be a part of this and feel the energy of the crowd, and for it to be for a good cause just gives me that much more motivation to get it under five." Wharton told E! News.

Wharton also described the importance of sharing his achievement with his family after crossing the finish line. His daughter is among the reasons he wants to complete the challenge.

"It's just giving me all the motivation that I need. I can't wait to FaceTime the girls after finishing and just, 'Look at Daddy's medal.'" Wharton said.

Another participant discussed using the marathon as a positive focus while dealing with the uncertainty surrounding surgery. The runner explained that preparing for the event offered an opportunity to concentrate on something within their control.

"I wanted to focus on something positive. It helped me so much to put my mindset, not just on focusing on the surgery, because a lot of it was just out of my hands, and the marathon is something that I can control." The participant told E! News.

The celebrity lineup also features several members of Bachelor Nation. Tayshia Adams, Zac Clark, Greg Grippo, Blake Horstmann, Matt James, Hannah Ann Sluss and Andrew Spencer are among the personalities participating alongside other entertainment figures.

The event brings together celebrities and other runners for one of New York City's major annual road races, organized by New York Road Runners.