New Orleans Marathon
The Lowdown
The New Orleans Marathon returns to the Big Easy in 2026 after a roughly six-and-a-half-year gap since the city last hosted a full 26.2-mile race — the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon, which ran through February 2019 before a shortened lakefront edition was discontinued in 2022 due to police-resourcing constraints on the longer route. The new event is organized by Premier Event Management alongside the City Park Conservancy, New Orleans & Co., and wellness group WellNXT, anchoring a new city-wide festival weekend called Fit Fête New Orleans. Held Saturday, November 14, 2026, the New Orleans Marathon starts at the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park, runs a double-loop route past Bayou St. John and along Lakeshore Drive on Lake Pontchartrain, and finishes on City Park's Roosevelt Mall — renamed "Mardi Gras Mall" for race weekend. The course is pancake flat, with roughly 147 feet (45 meters) of total elevation gain across the full distance and a high point of just 15 feet above sea level, making it a strong candidate for a Boston Marathon qualifying attempt. Alongside the full marathon, the weekend offers a half marathon, marathon relay, and 5K, all starting from City Park on November 14, 2026, with early-bird marathon entry at $130 before prices rise on August 31, 2026. As the race's relaunch year, the field is uncapped and the event forms part of the broader Fit Fête New Orleans festival of community fitness activities in City Park.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Large field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Good crowd energy
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) — race start, in the heart of City Park
Bayou St. John — scenic waterway crossed early on the double-loop course
Lakeshore Drive / Lake Pontchartrain — lakefront miles along the northern edge of the city
Roosevelt Mall ("Mardi Gras Mall") — City Park finish line
City Park's live oaks and sculpture garden — shaded stretches along the loop
Other distances available during the event weekend:
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age requirements are set per distance by the organizer; verify current policy on the official registration page before entering
- All participants must complete online registration and sign the race waiver
- Bib and timing device must be worn as assigned on race day
Required Documents
- Photo ID (government-issued)
- Signed race waiver/registration confirmation
- Emergency contact information
- Parental consent for participants under 18
Entry Methods
- Online Registration
- Marathon Relay Team Entry
- Virtual Option (marathon, half marathon, 5K)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Standard no-refund policy typical of U.S. road races; check the official RunSignup registration page for current deferral/transfer terms, as this is the event's relaunch year and policies were not fully published at time of research
The New Orleans Marathon is the first full 26.2-mile race held in New Orleans since the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Marathon (last run February 2019) and a shortened lakefront successor that was discontinued in 2022.
The event anchors the new Fit Fête New Orleans festival weekend (Nov 13–14, 2026), which combines the marathon weekend with broader community wellness programming in City Park.
Finish time cutoff for the marathon is 2:30 PM CST (7-hour limit, roughly 17:00 min/mile pace) from a 7:30 AM CST start.
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