How to get into the Paris Marathon

Paris Marathon ballot

Paris moved from a first-come sale with rising price tiers to a free ballot for its 50th edition on April 4, 2027. The ballot ran from 2 p.m. on September 8 to 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2026, and about 166,000 people from 165 countries applied. The 2026 race had 58,853 runners, per running press. The organizers have not published the number of ballot places; Running Attitude reports 35,000 public bibs, given in two waves with no third draw, and the organizer expects about 60,000 runners in all.

You could enter alone or in a team of two to six, and about 14,000 teams applied across the marathon and half. A team is drawn together. Applying was free and you paid only if drawn.

Results went out by email in waves from October 1, 2026. Winners had 72 hours to confirm and pay, and unclaimed places went back into new draws. The race has been full since October 20, per running press. The 2028 ballot has not been announced; expect September 2027.

Paris Marathon entry fee and requirements

The bib costs €169 for 2027, one price for everyone, with 5% off for FFA license holders. The finisher medal is included and the T-shirt is optional. Optional cancellation and accident insurance from MEETCH is sold at registration; the race publishes no price for it.

Every runner needs an FFA Athlé Compétition, Athlé Entreprise or Athlé Running license for 2026/2027, or a Pass Prévention Santé (PPS) issued less than a year before race day. Foreign licenses, even World Athletics ones, are not accepted, so most runners from abroad need the PPS, which costs €5 for one year on the FFA site, pps.athle.fr, after a short online health course. Enter the number in your dashboard by 11:59 p.m. on March 28, 2027, or you cannot start and get no refund.

Runners must be 20 or older by December 31, 2027. The time limit is 6 hours, and the sub-3 start wave needs proof of a sub-3 time.

Paris Marathon charity bibs

Dossards Engagés is the charity route, run with Alvarum. You choose one of about 60 partner associations and send a short application explaining why. If the association accepts you, you pay it an €85 fee, which is not refundable, not tax-deductible and does not count toward your target.

You then raise at least €420 in donations. The bib itself is paid for by the association, not by you, and is secured once you reach €420: from December 1, 2026 you get an email to finish your race registration within 4 days. Runners signed up by December 31, 2026 must reach €420 by January 31, 2027; later sign-ups by March 17, 2027, when registration closes. If you fall short the association can cancel your place and give the bib to someone else, and donations already made stay with it. The number of charity bibs is not published; in 2026, 3,315 runners raised €1,868,113.

Associations named on the site include Action contre la Faim, Fondation ARCAD, Fondation Falret, Fondation pour le Logement des Défavorisés, Fonds de dotation 101, Fonds Serendipite, Rebond, Secours populaire français and Unapei. Eligible donations get a French tax receipt.

Paris Marathon solidarity bibs and company offers

For 2027 the race set aside 1,000 solidarity bibs, called Dossards Passerelle, at €50 (€25 for the half) for job seekers, needs-based scholarship students and RSA and AAH recipients, with proof less than 3 months old, per several running outlets. They had their own first draw among eligible ballot entrants, and those not picked went into the general draw. The official regulation confirms a reserved solidarity group but does not state the number or price.

Companies can enter teams of colleagues through the race's corporate offers. The race publishes no price or quota for them.

Paris Marathon resale, refunds and transfers

The official resale platform opens December 1, 2026. Runners who cannot race release their bibs there and other runners buy them. Running press reports that fees will apply; the price, fees and seller refund terms are set in the platform's own conditions, not published as of November 12, 2026.

A bib cannot be lent, given, sold or bought outside the platform, and doing so can lead to exclusion. No deferral option has been published. Bibs are collected in person with ID; none are handed out on race day.

Paris Marathon tour operators

The race says partner tour operators will sell packages with a bib. As of November 12, 2026 it has not published the list. Several operators say they are official for 2027 and sell hotel packages with a guaranteed entry; check an operator against the race's list once it appears.

Race Beyond sells a 3-night Race & Roam room at the Novotel La Défense for $1,195 with one bib, a shakeout run and post-race drinks, and its 4-night Signature package at Le Tsuba from $1,595 per runner with breakfast, a bike tour and a pre-race dinner. A second runner's entry is $300. Sports Tours International lists 2 and 3 night packages with expo escorts and a 5K shakeout, price to be confirmed. Marathon Tours & Travel has not published 2027 rates; its 2026 US packages ran from $1,415 per person sharing for 4 nights, entry extra, with a $500 deposit and the balance due January 12, 2027, all non-refundable. Its UK 2026 entry was £199 with a hotel package.

Dream Travel Canada sells a 3-night package at Hôtel Doisy Étoile for €1,272 per runner sharing, plus €146 in taxes and fees. It takes a CAD 650 deposit, €400 by December 8, 2026 and the rest by February 2, 2027, offers no refund or deferral, and charges 15% to 100% to resell a cancelled package. The health pass is not included in packages.