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Paris Marathon 2027: Course, Lottery And Race Weekend Guide
Updated: Oct 1
The Paris Marathon gives runners the chance to experience the French capital from the middle of its streets. Its grand avenues, parks and river views have made it one of Europe’s best known marathons, drawing people who want a fast race as well as those who want to enjoy the city.
The Asics Marathon de Paris 2027 takes place on Sunday 4 April. It will be the 50th edition of the race and the first under the new organiser. General entry is now decided by lottery, making this an important year to check the current arrangements rather than rely on advice from previous editions.
The Destination
Paris offers plenty to make a marathon trip feel like more than a race weekend. You could visit the Louvre, see Notre-Dame, explore the streets of Montmartre or spend time along the Seine. The city’s cafés and neighbourhoods give you good reasons to stay after the marathon too.
Be selective about sightseeing before you run. Paris is easy to explore on foot, but a long day of walking can leave you tired before you reach the start. Choose one or two places you especially want to see and save the rest for afterwards.
History Of The Paris Marathon
The modern Paris Marathon began in 1976 and has grown into one of the world’s largest city marathons. Its field brings together elite athletes, experienced runners, first time marathoners and people raising money for causes that matter to them.
The 2027 race marks the Paris Marathon’s 50th edition and a change of organiser. Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), which ran the event through 2026, has been replaced by Cadence Running United. Asics is the new title partner, and general entry now uses a lottery rather than the previous first come, first served system.
When Is The Paris Marathon 2027?
The Asics Marathon de Paris 2027 takes place on Sunday 4 April. The organiser has confirmed the date, with the detailed race day schedule to follow.
Paris will be really busy across the marathon weekend, so think about travel and accommodation early. If you are coming from another country, allow enough time to collect your bib and settle in before race day.
Paris Marathon Expo And Bib Collection
The organiser has not yet announced where and when runners will collect their bibs in 2027. The 2026 expo was held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, but its location and timetable should not be used to plan this year’s collection.
Check the participant instructions before you travel, particularly for identification and any health documentation required to complete your entry. Give yourself enough time to collect your bib without making it the last task of a tiring day.
Race Morning
A major marathon involves more waiting and walking before the start than many runners expect. Once your start time and access instructions arrive, work backwards from them to plan when you need to leave your accommodation.
Road closures may change the journey you would normally take across Paris. Leave time to reach your assigned entrance, use the facilities and settle into your starting area. Beginning the marathon feeling calm is worth more than squeezing in extra minutes of sleep.
Paris Marathon Course
The course described here is the 2026 route. The 2027 course has not yet been confirmed, so these details show what runners experienced in the most recent edition rather than the route you should expect to follow on 4 April.
The Champs-Élysées Start
The 2026 marathon began on the Champs-Élysées, with runners heading down the famous avenue towards Place de la Concorde. It was an impressive opening, with the scale of the street matching the size of the event. Even on a broad road, a large field can make the first kilometres crowded. Letting the runners around you settle before worrying about a precise pace was a sensible way to avoid wasting energy.
East Through Paris
From the centre, runners headed east through the city towards the Bois de Vincennes. The route took them away from the opening crowds and towards longer stretches where it became easier to establish a rhythm. This was a useful part of the race for taking stock. The excitement of the start had passed, but there was still a long way to go. Maintaining a comfortable effort and following a fuelling plan mattered more than gaining a few seconds.
The Bois de Vincennes
The Bois de Vincennes formed a substantial part of the eastern section. Its greener surroundings offered a change from the central avenues and space to concentrate on running. It could also feel quieter than the streets packed with spectators. Keeping focused through these kilometres helped runners return to the city with enough energy for the second half.
Along The Seine
Back in central Paris, the course followed stretches beside the Seine. The organiser highlighted sights including Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower, making this one of the most memorable parts of the route. The river section included underpasses that added short descents and climbs. They were manageable, but repeatedly forcing the same pace through them could cost energy. Holding a steady effort was a better approach.
The Bois de Boulogne And Finish
Late in the race, runners entered the Bois de Boulogne. With fewer central city landmarks and less concentrated support, this section could feel demanding when the marathon distance was beginning to take its toll. The course then headed to its finish on Avenue Foch, near the Arc de Triomphe. After the quieter park kilometres, the final approach brought back the crowds and the atmosphere of a major city marathon.
How Difficult Is The Paris Marathon Course?
The organiser listed approximately 256 metres of climbing, while the Seine underpasses created shorter changes in level that could affect a runner’s rhythm.
The course was also a test of pacing. An exciting start encouraged runners to go too quickly, while the later park kilometres called for patience and concentration. Those are useful lessons for marathon preparation, whatever shape the new route takes.
What Makes The Paris Marathon Special?
Paris offers variety across a marathon distance. Its historic streets, parks and river views create a stronger sense of travelling through a city than running repeated loops or staying within a single district.
The event’s size adds to that experience. Sharing the course with over 50,000 runners and seeing supporters out across the city can make the race feel like a major occasion from start to finish. The 50th edition gives 2027 an additional sense of significance.
Is The Paris Marathon A Fast Course?
Many runners have chosen Paris with a personal best in mind. Previous routes have offered broad roads and long stretches where it was possible to settle into a steady pace, although they have also included climbs and busy early kilometres.
For 2027, wait for the official map and elevation profile before setting a course specific pacing plan. In the meantime, training to hold a sustainable effort and practising your race day fuelling will serve you well.
Is The Paris Marathon Good For First Time Runners?
Paris can be an exciting first marathon for someone who has prepared for the distance. The city provides plenty of motivation, and the size of the event gives runners a sense of being part of something significant.
The logistics deserve attention alongside the training. Find out when to collect your bib, read the final start instructions and practise eating and drinking on long runs.
How To Enter The Paris Marathon 2027
General entry is through a lottery. Applications are open until 11.59pm Paris time on 30 September 2026. Entering is free, and applying earlier within the window does not improve your chances. Each person may enter only once.
Lottery results were announced on 1 October. If selected, you will have 72 hours from the notification to complete your registration and pay the €169 general entry fee. If you are not selected in the initial draw, you remain in consideration for any later draws held to allocate available places.
Runners can also apply as a team of two to six people. If one team member is selected, the whole team is selected, although you can run separately on race day. Participants must have been born no later than 31 December 2007, and places cannot be transferred to another person.
Running The Paris Marathon For Charity
The organiser offers Charity Entries through partner charities. You choose a participating organisation, create a fundraising campaign on the dedicated platform and receive your place when you reach the required fundraising target.
Check the target and conditions before committing. In particular, find out when the money must be raised and what happens if you cannot run. If you secure a general entry through the lottery, you can also contact a charity about fundraising with your own place.
Where To Stay
Paris offers an enormous choice of accommodation, but location matters when you have a marathon to run. The race starts on the Champs-Élysées and finishes in western Paris near the Arc de Triomphe, so staying in the 8th, 16th or 17th arrondissements can put you relatively close to the key race-day areas. Central accommodation also makes it easier to enjoy Paris before and after the marathon.
You can often find more choice by staying further away and using the Métro, but check your race-morning journey before booking. With tens of thousands of runners travelling to Paris for the weekend, hotels in convenient locations can fill quickly, so securing accommodation early is sensible once your plans are confirmed.
Our Verdict
The Paris Marathon offers the scale of a major international race in a city that rewards a longer visit. Its 50th edition on 4 April 2027 is particularly interesting because runners will experience the event under a new organiser.
Tour operator places are still available, as well as charity places for runners who want to raise money for a cause.
Race website
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