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 edition opens a new era for the race. After 28 years under Amaury Sport Organisation, the City of Paris awarded the 2027-2030 editions to the Cadence consortium (Havas Events, Keneo and OSE, formerly Avena Event), and ASICS replaced Schneider Electric as title partner, so the event runs as the ASICS Marathon de Paris. How you get in changes too: bibs are allocated by a public lottery open to everyone rather than on a first-come, first-served basis, and the old escalating price scale is replaced by a single flat entry fee. Registration is expected to open in autumn 2026, with the new organiser presenting the full rules, route and calendar at a press conference on 8 September 2026. 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 has signalled changes to the runner experience and the course for 2027, so treat the route above as the historic layout until the definitive 2027 parcours is published. 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.