Brooklyn has a packed weekend ahead, and the centrepiece is one of the borough’s biggest annual athletic events. The 2026 RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon takes over Saturday, May 16, sending 29,000 runners on a 13.1-mile journey from Prospect Park to the Coney Island boardwalk. Whether you are running, cheering, or just navigating around the closures, here is what you need to know — plus a full slate of other Brooklyn events to fill your Saturday and Sunday.
The RBC Brooklyn Half: Prospect Park to Coney Island
The race is organized by New York Road Runners and has become one of the most popular half marathons in the country. The 2026 edition hosts 29,000 adult participants, plus more than 1,000 youth runners in the accompanying Boardwalk Kids Run. The route starts near the Brooklyn Museum, loops through Prospect Park for roughly the first six miles across the park’s tree-lined roadways, then descends south through Brooklyn to finish on the boardwalk at Coney Island.
After crossing the finish line, runners head to the RBC Brooklyn Half After-Party at Maimonides Park — home of the Brooklyn Cyclones — for a post-race celebration. If you are a spectator, the Coney Island boardwalk finish is the most festive spot to cheer, with easy subway access via the D, F, N, or Q trains to Coney Island–Stillwell Ave. Expect road closures throughout Prospect Park and along the southbound race corridor; the Brooklyn Half website at events.nyrr.org has the full closure map.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Kite Festival
For families and anyone not built for 13.1 miles on Saturday, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Kite Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pier 5 Soccer Fields. The setup is simple and fun: decorate a free kite provided by the park, borrow one to fly, or bring your own. Live music, crafts, and games round out the programming. Pier 5 looks straight across at the Manhattan skyline and gets great wind off the harbor, which means actual kite flying rather than watching your kite droop in a corner. Take the 2/3 to Clark Street or the A/C to High Street–Brooklyn Bridge and walk through the park.
Park Slope Street Fair: Sunday on Fifth Avenue
Sunday, May 17 brings a classic Brooklyn street fair to Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Vendors, food, live music, and community organizations line the avenue for a low-key neighborhood afternoon. It is the kind of event that is easy to spend two hours at without really intending to — a good find-what-you-find afternoon. The R/F to 4th Ave–9th St or the F/G to 7th Ave get you there.
Brooklyn Public Library Bookmobile: 75 Years of Service
The Brooklyn Public Library’s Bookmobile is making eight stops across the borough this weekend to celebrate 75 years of service. Each stop comes with library programming, live entertainment, and refreshments. Check bklynlibrary.org for the Saturday and Sunday stop schedule and locations — it is worth timing a walk or errand around one if you are in a neighborhood on the route.
Spectator Spots for the Half Marathon
If you are heading out to cheer on the runners, a few things help. The Prospect Park portion of the race is genuinely beautiful to watch — the park’s Boathouse and the Long Meadow area give you room to spread out and see multiple miles. The Coney Island boardwalk finish has more energy, with announcements, crowds, and the beach as a backdrop. Avoid driving anywhere near the race route on Saturday morning; the closures are substantial. Subway or bike are far easier.
What You Need to Know
- RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon: Saturday, May 16 — 13.1 miles from Prospect Park to Coney Island boardwalk; 29,000 runners; spectator-friendly at Prospect Park and the boardwalk finish; closure map at events.nyrr.org
- Brooklyn Bridge Park Kite Festival: Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Pier 5 Soccer Fields; free kite decorating, flying, live music; subway A/C to High Street or 2/3 to Clark Street
- Park Slope Street Fair: Sunday, May 17, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Fifth Avenue in Park Slope; free admission; subway R/F to 4th Ave–9th St or F/G to 7th Ave
- Bookmobile: Saturday and Sunday, eight stops across Brooklyn; programming and entertainment at each; schedule at bklynlibrary.org
It is a full Brooklyn weekend — between the half marathon energy at Coney Island, the Pier 5 breeze at the Kite Festival, and a Sunday afternoon on Fifth Avenue, there is no shortage of reasons to get out. Pick your borough corner and enjoy it.
Getting around Brooklyn for the race will require some planning — our NYC transit update for this weekend has current bus and ferry information. For more on Brooklyn neighborhoods and how to navigate them, see our guide to NYC community boards.
