Looking for the best marathons in France for 2027? Here is our top 10: big city races like Paris and Lyon, flat courses for a personal best like La Rochelle and Deauville, and more unusual marathons, from the Médoc vineyards to the Mont-Blanc. For each one, you’ll find the 2027 date, what makes it special and the kind of runner it suits.
The short answer
- The iconic one: the Paris Marathon, 50th edition on Sunday 4 April 2027 (the ballot is already closed).
- For a personal best: La Rochelle (late November) and Deauville (mid-November), two flat seaside courses.
- For the scenery: Annecy (24 and 25 April 2027) and Nice-Cannes (7 November 2027).
- For the party: the Médoc Marathon, early September, among the vineyards in fancy dress.
- For the challenge: the Mont-Blanc Marathon, late June in Chamonix, with 2,540 m of elevation gain.
Contents
One tip before you choose: places at the biggest marathons go earlier every year, sometimes by ballot. If you have a specific race in mind for 2027, check its entry dates now, then plan your build-up: a marathon training plan usually runs for 12 to 16 weeks.
The 10 best marathons in France in 2027
1. Paris Marathon, the iconic one
No list of marathons in France can start anywhere else. The country’s biggest marathon celebrates its 50th edition in 2027, on a course that takes in the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde and the banks of the Seine. It isn’t the fastest: with around 200 m of elevation gain and a few tunnels along the river, it calls for careful pacing. But the atmosphere and the setting more than make up for it. For a detailed look at the course, read our guide to the Paris Marathon route.
- Date: Sunday 4 April 2027.
- Entry: the ballot closed on 30 September 2026; a general entry costs €169. Full details in our Paris Marathon 2027 guide.
- For: runners who want to experience a major international marathon at least once.
2. La Rochelle Marathon, for a personal best
Held since 1991, the La Rochelle Marathon Serge Vigot runs through the Old Port and the historic streets of this Atlantic city, on a course that suits fast times: in 2025, 469 runners finished under 3 hours. Louis, a RunMotion Coach user, tells how he ran under 3 hours there. It closes the French season in late November, which makes it a great target after an autumn build-up.
- Date: the 2027 date hasn’t been announced yet; the race is traditionally held on the last Sunday of November (Sunday 29 November in 2026).
- Entry: €58 for the marathon in 2026, unchanged for four editions. Two-person and company relay formats are also available.
- For: runners chasing a PB in a great atmosphere.
3. Deauville Marathon, between sea and elegance
This young Normandy marathon has quickly made a name for itself thanks to its flat, PB-friendly course and its finish on Deauville’s famous boardwalk, Les Planches. Watch out for the coastal wind, which can make the second half tougher. More in our guide to the Deauville Marathon.
- Date: the 2027 date hasn’t been announced yet; the 2026 edition is on 14 and 15 November.
- Races: marathon, 2- and 4-person relays, half marathon, 10K and kids’ races.
- For: runners looking for a fast course on the Normandy coast.
4. Lake Annecy Marathon, the most beautiful setting
A turquoise lake and mountains still capped with snow in spring: the Lake Annecy Marathon has one of the most beautiful settings in France. Much of the course follows the cycle path along the lake, which makes it faster than the surrounding peaks suggest. It celebrates its 46th edition in 2027. Staying a few days? Here are the best running routes in Annecy.
- Date: Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 April 2027.
- Entry: opens in stages (volunteers and associations, then elite runners and groups, French federation members, and finally the general public). The full 2027 programme hasn’t been published yet.
- For: runners who want performance and scenery, with a half marathon, 10K and 5K for friends and family.
5. Run in Lyon, the most complete city marathon
Run in Lyon keeps growing: 36,000 runners were expected in 2026, including more than 7,000 on the marathon for the first time. The race starts in Old Lyon and finishes on Place Bellecour after a big loop along the Saône, through the Parc de la Tête d’Or, the Cité internationale, along the Rhône and past the Musée des Confluences. Good to know: the course no longer goes through the Croix-Rousse tunnel and has around 293 m of elevation gain.
- Date: Sunday 3 October 2027.
- For: runners who train over the summer and love big-city atmospheres.
6. Nice-Cannes Marathon, the French Riviera classic
Starting on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, running along the Mediterranean through Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Antibes and Golfe-Juan, and finishing on the Croisette in Cannes: the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes is a point-to-point race by the sea. In 2026, it drew around 25,000 runners, nearly 15,000 of them on the marathon, from 117 countries. The course is mostly flat, but a headwind can make some stretches harder. Read how Mario, a RunMotion Coach user, finished Nice-Cannes.
- Date: Sunday 7 November 2027.
- Entry: open since 12 November 2026, with a special price for the first 1,000 entrants.
- For: runners who want to end their season in the sun.
7. Médoc Marathon, the most festive
Nobody looks at their watch here. The Médoc Marathon winds through the vineyards around Pauillac, near Bordeaux, with around twenty aid stations serving wine and sometimes oysters. Fancy dress is almost compulsory, with a theme that changes every year. The course is hilly and partly on tracks, so pick a comfortable pace and enjoy it. The Médoc celebrated its 40th edition on 5 September 2026.
- Date: early September 2027; specialist race calendars list Saturday 4 September, still to be confirmed by the organisers, as is the theme.
- Entry: the 2027 price hasn’t been announced (€110 for a race entry alone in 2026).
- For: runners who want to celebrate the marathon with friends.
8. Mont-Blanc Marathon, the toughest
If you’re looking for the toughest marathon in France, this is probably it. The 42 km of the Mont-Blanc Marathon is a mountain race in the Chamonix valley, with 2,540 m of elevation gain (2026 format) and a long final descent into Chamonix. It’s a trail race rather than a road marathon, and should be trained for like one. RunMotion Coach is the official coach of the Mont-Blanc Marathon: we know this race well, close to the Alps where we grew up.
- Date: the event runs from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 June 2027; the exact day of the 42 km hasn’t been announced yet.
- Entry: opens in several phases from November 2026; in 2026, half of the 42 km places were allocated by ballot. Everything is in our Mont-Blanc Marathon 2027 guide, and our Mont-Blanc Marathon training plan helps you get ready.
- For: marathon runners moving to trail, and trail runners who want a “marathon” that suits them.
Other races in France and beyond climb just as hard: find them in our selection of the marathons with the most elevation gain.
9. Vannes Marathon, the Brittany favourite
The Vannes Marathon starts in the historic town centre and runs along the Gulf of Morbihan, on coastal paths, through forest and green spaces, on a single loop with 244 m of elevation gain. It also offers a two-person relay (23 km then 19 km), a four-person company relay, a 20K and a night 10K.
- Date: late September 2027, exact day not yet announced (2026 edition on 26 and 27 September).
- For: runners who want a scenic, human-sized marathon.
10. Royan Marathon, the best seaside course
The Royan Côte de Beauté Marathon starts on Place Charles-de-Gaulle and follows the Gironde estuary, the seafront and the beaches. With around 180 m of elevation gain, it’s a fast and pleasant spring course. The event drew 8,460 participants across all races in 2026.
- Date: Sunday 23 May 2027 (kids’ races on Saturday 22 May).
- Races: marathon, half marathon and 10K.
- For: runners who want a flat spring marathon by the sea.
Marathons in France: the 2027 calendar
Here are the 2027 dates of our top 10 and other French marathons worth knowing. When the organisers haven’t confirmed the exact day yet, we give the usual period.
| Marathon | 2027 date | Main appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | Sunday 4 April | The biggest marathon in France |
| Annecy | 24 and 25 April | The lake setting |
| Nantes | Sunday 25 April | Spring city marathon |
| Route du Louvre (Lille-Lens) | Early May (9 May according to specialist calendars) | Point-to-point, around 140 m of elevation gain |
| Royan | Sunday 23 May | Flat seaside course |
| Mont-Blanc | Late June (event from 24 to 27 June) | The toughest |
| Médoc | Early September (4 September announced, to be confirmed) | The most festive |
| Vannes | Late September | Gulf of Morbihan |
| Run in Lyon | Sunday 3 October | Big city marathon |
| Nice-Cannes | Sunday 7 November | Mediterranean and the Croisette |
| Bordeaux | Autumn, date not announced | Back since 2026 |
| Deauville | Mid-November | Flat, finish on the boardwalk |
| La Rochelle | Late November | Personal best |
Other marathons in France worth knowing
Our top 10 inevitably leaves out some great races. La Route du Louvre links Lille to Lens and finishes in front of the Louvre-Lens museum, with a lively, popular atmosphere. The Bordeaux Marathon made its comeback on 8 November 2026, seven years after its last edition, and the mayor has confirmed a 2027 edition. In spring, there are also the Nantes and Montpellier marathons; in autumn, the Rennes Green Marathon, the Toulouse Marathon and the Marathon des Villages at Cap-Ferret. Want to look beyond France? See our selection of the best marathons in Europe.
How to choose your marathon in France
The right marathon is the one that matches your goal. If you’re after a fast time, choose a flat course and a cool date: La Rochelle, Deauville and Royan are good candidates, and our ranking of the flattest marathons will help you compare. For a first marathon, atmosphere and organisation matter more: big races like Paris, Lyon or Nice-Cannes carry you through the tough moments.
Coming from abroad? Check the health requirements early. To run a race in France without a French athletics federation (FFA) licence, adult runners must provide a health document: since January 2026, this is the PPS (Parcours Prévention Santé), an online health-awareness course on the official pps.athle.fr site, which costs €5 and is valid for one year. Each organiser explains how to upload it when you register.
On race day, don’t start too fast. Many runners slow down by around 10 seconds per kilometre after 30 km, so keep some margin early on and never run more than 5 seconds per kilometre faster than your goal pace. Set your targets with our race time predictor and marathon split times calculator, or plan your race with Race Strategy.
Frequently asked questions about marathons in France
What is the biggest marathon in France?
The Paris Marathon, by far. Other very big French marathons include Nice-Cannes (nearly 15,000 runners on the marathon in 2026), La Rochelle and Run in Lyon (more than 7,000 marathon entrants in 2026).
What is the fastest marathon in France?
Deauville and La Rochelle are the go-to races for a personal best, thanks to their flat courses: in La Rochelle, 469 runners finished under 3 hours in 2025. What really makes the difference is your training: see what a good marathon time is for your age and level.
What is the hardest marathon in France?
Among well-known marathons, the Mont-Blanc Marathon, with 2,540 m of elevation gain in the mountains. On the road, the Médoc is hilly and partly on tracks, but people run it mostly for the party.
Do I need a medical certificate to run a marathon in France?
If you don’t hold a French athletics federation (FFA) licence, you need the PPS, an online health-awareness course that has replaced the medical certificate for adults. Since January 2026, it costs €5 on pps.athle.fr and is valid for one year. Always check the race rules, as each organiser explains how to submit it.
Which marathon in France will you run in 2027?
A PB in La Rochelle, postcard views in Annecy, a party in the Médoc or a challenge on the Mont-Blanc: France has a marathon for every runner. Once you have your bib, what matters most is getting to the start line fit and injury-free. The RunMotion Coach app builds your personalised marathon plan around your race date, your schedule and your level, and adapts it as you train. Try it free for 7 days.
