Running for fun? Questionable. Running for pastries? Now that’s a different story. The NYC Bakery Run is returning for its second year this fall on Sunday, October 25, 2026, turning the city’s favorite pastime–eating carbs–into actual cardio. Runners will hit the pavement across Manhattan and Brooklyn before rewarding themselves with some very well-earned, top-tier bakery treats.
Finally, a race where “I’m only doing this for the food” is not just acceptable, but basically the entire point.
This year’s route loops through 10 of NYC’s most coveted bakeries, offering a free signature pastry at each checkpoint. The ultimate finish line? A seated pastry course inside the three-Michelin-star Eleven Madison Park. Because, honestly, who needs a water station when you can grab a Madison Square instead?
The best part: participation is 100% free. However, with more than 17,000 people applying for the 2025 event debut, getting your name picked may potentially be harder than the running itself. In fact, the odds are steeper than getting into the TCS New York City Marathon—and we don’t think that’s a coincidence.
Here’s everything you need to know about NYC’s tastiest, carb-loaded run.
🥐 What to Expect at the 2026 NYC Bakery Run (& Which Bakeries are Participating)
The premise is simple: participants will run a 13.1-mile route–the exact length of the standard NYC half marathon–eating their way through the city’s most sought-after croissants, cardamom buns, layer cakes, and more.
Participating bakeries include a heavy-hitting lineup of NYC favorites:
- Altbau Bakery
- Elbow Bread
- Eleven Madison Park (exclusive seated pastry course)
- From Lucie
- Hani’s Bakery
- L’Appartement 4F
- La Cabra
- Librae Bakery
- Radio Bakery
- Saison Bakery
And yes, you get to skip the line at every single stop. That means absolutely no waiting on massive, block-long lines like you normally would at Radio Bakery on a Sunday morning.
🏃♀️ How to Enter the Exclusive Lottery
The pastries aren’t just free–participation is completely free, too!
But, like all great NYC races, runners will be selected through a highly competitive lottery process. Only 100 spots are available, and they’re raffled in pairs, so you’ll need to grab an ambitious—or at least very hungry—running partner.
- Lottery Opens: Now open–sign up online!
- Lottery Closes: Monday, October 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm ET
- Winners Announced: Tuesday, October 15, 2026
Runners will move in three paced waves: advanced, intermediate, and beginner. Founder Simon Evers stated:
Doing the unexpected creates attention…We’re directing thousands of people toward the bakeries raising the level across New York. The goal is to make people hungry for quality, curious enough to seek it out, and able to experience the city differently for a day.
📍 Details at a glance
- What: NYC Bakery Run 2026
- Where: 13.1 route through Manhattan & Brooklyn
- When: Sunday, October 25, 2026 | Race kicks off at 9 am
- Distance: 13.1 miles (Half Marathon)
- Stops: 10 premium bakeries
- Entry: 100% Free
If you ask us, this is the only logical reason to run a half marathon! Would you clock 13 miles for free pastries?