Marathon de Paris

The Marathon de Paris is one of the world's most celebrated city marathons, first run in 1976 and now an annual spring highlight that draws elite competitors and tens of thousands of recreational runners from across the globe. The 2027 race on Sunday 4 April is the 50th edition, and it opens a new era. After 28 years under Amaury Sport Organisation, the City of Paris awarded the 2027-2030 editions to Cadence Running United, a consortium of Havas Events, Keneo and OSE, and ASICS replaced Schneider Electric as title partner, so the event runs as the ASICS Marathon de Paris. Entry has changed too: bibs are allocated by a public lottery that is free to enter, and your application date makes no difference to your chances. Selected runners pay a single flat fee of EUR 169, replacing the old escalating price scale, and 1,000 solidarity bibs are offered at EUR 50. The 2027 lottery opened on 8 September 2026 and closes on 30 September 2026, with results from 1 October. The route is quintessentially Parisian. Under the previous organiser it started on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees and took runners past Place de la Concorde, the Louvre, the Ile de la Cite and Notre-Dame, the banks of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower and the Bois de Vincennes before finishing on Avenue Foch near the Arc de Triomphe. It is comparatively flat and fast for a major capital-city marathon, with long straight stretches that suit strong times. The new organiser will unveil the 2027 course in early 2027 and has said it will stay the same for four consecutive years, so treat the route above as the historic layout until then. Race-day atmosphere is festive and distinctly French: large, enthusiastic crowds, live bands and DJ zones, costumed supporters, and frequent aid stations along the way. Logistics are runner-friendly, with pacers for common goal times, clear signage, secure bag drop and strong public-transport access to the start and finish. The course is measured and accepted as a Boston Marathon qualifying route, and the race has long carried a World Athletics label. Whether you are chasing a personal best, a Boston qualifier, or simply soaking in Paris, expect first-rate organisation, memorable urban scenery and a celebratory finish befitting one of Europe's classic marathons.