The Paris Marathon will return for its 50th edition on April 4, 2027, under the management of a new organizer that is overhauling registration with a lottery system and a fixed price point of 169 euros, according to official announcements.
Group Cadence Takes the Reins
Group Cadence, a French consortium combining Havas, Keneo, and Avena Event, took over the operational reins from Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) after winning a competitive bidding process launched by the City of Paris. Anne Murac, managing director of Group Cadence, outlined the updated format during a press briefing, confirming that the upcoming race aims to deliver an exceptional experience for the field while smoothing out administrative friction.
Scrapping the First-Come Scramble
For decades, securing a spot in one of the world’s most popular marathons relied strictly on a first-come, first-served mechanism. Runners typically faced a scramble right after the conclusion of the previous spring’s race, watching the roughly 60,000 available entries vanish over several months. Organizers stated that the shift to a random lottery format is designed to restore serenity to the entry process and eliminate the pre-existing stress associated with immediate digital queues.
Registration for the lottery window opens immediately and runs through September 30. Successful applicants drawn in the lottery will then have a 72-hour window to secure and pay for their entry. Participants can register as individuals or teams, and organizers plan to launch an official resale platform for runners who ultimately cannot make the start line.
A Unified 169-Euro Price Tag
The unified price of 169 euros sits between previous pricing structures used under prior management. It is more expensive than the early-bird rates offered nearly a year in advance during past cycles (which started at 135 euros) but cheaper than the late-registration fees that reached 179 euros. Additionally, organizers confirmed that solidarity bibs priced at 50 euros will be reserved for job seekers, university scholarship recipients, and beneficiaries of specific social assistance programs.
A Municipal Handover and City Council Review
The transition follows a municipal review by the Paris City Council, which awarded the operating contract for both the Paris Marathon and the Paris Half Marathon to Group Cadence through 2030. ASO had managed the event since 1998. While ASO’s previous financial bids were marginally higher, the city favored Cadence’s operational proposal, which emphasized strengthened environmental standards, social equity measures, and better integration of neighborhoods beyond standard tourist corridors.
New Routes and 2027 Deadlines
Course layouts remain under development in coordination with local authorities. Organizers indicated that the final route for the marathon will be unveiled in early 2027 and will remain locked for a four-year cycle once established. Conversely, the Paris Half Marathon, scheduled for March 7, 2027, with a fixed entry fee of 79 euros and its own lottery system, will feature a rotating course each year to showcase different parts of the French capital.
Runners can submit their lottery applications through the official event portals before the September 30 deadline.
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