France
Nantes Marathon 2027
Sunday 25 April 2027 · confirmed date
184 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 25 April 2027
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 09:15
- local time
- Course
- Mostly flat · Point to point
- Les Nefs, Machines de l'Île to Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire
- Course record, men
- 2:15:19
- Hamza Sahli, 2026
- Course record, women
- 2:32:49
- Fatiha Asmid, 2022
- Finishers
- 3,474
- in 2024
- Time limit
- 5h45
- First held
- 1981
The race
About the Nantes Marathon
The Nantes Marathon is one of the oldest in France: first run in 1981, it is often described as the country's fourth-oldest marathon. Now sponsored as the Abalone Marathon de Nantes, it fills a late-April weekend with a half marathon and the Foulées de l'Éléphant, a Saturday-evening 10 km. More than 23,000 runners took part across all races in 2026.
The course is entirely urban and has a reputation among French runners for being fast and even. In 2026 Hamza Sahli ran 2:15:19 to break a course record that had stood since 2000. It suits runners aiming for a spring personal best, and anyone who enjoys a lively city atmosphere.
Course
The Nantes Marathon course
The start is at Les Nefs, the huge former shipyard halls that house the Machines de l'Île. The route then takes in Place Graslin, Place Royale, the Parc de Procé, the Jardin des Plantes and the Île de Versailles before following the banks of the Erdre. Near the end you cross the river on La Traversante, a 324 m floating bridge installed for the race, before finishing at the Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire. The course is officially measured by FFA judges and is known for long, steady sections with few changes of rhythm, which makes even pacing easier. Split times are shown at halfway, 30 km and the finish.
Race-day weather
Late-April mornings in Nantes are usually around 8-13°C at the 9:15 start, with mild, changeable spring weather and a chance of showers.
Train
Training for the Nantes Marathon 2027
26 weeks to go. A marathon plan runs 12 to 24 weeks and ends on race week. Here is when each one starts.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 9 November 2026 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 7 December 2026 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 4 January 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 1 February 2027 |
For this course
With a late-April date, your build-up runs through February and March, so expect some cold, wet or windy long runs. The course is fast with few changes of rhythm, so the key sessions are long runs with blocks at marathon pace and tempo work on flat roads. The 9:15 start is later than most, so rehearse your breakfast timing on long-run mornings. The floating bridge comes late in the race: shorten your stride and stay relaxed as you cross.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Nantes Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Registration is online; entries for 2027 opened on 22 September 2026. The marathon is limited to 7,000 bibs and the 2026 edition sold out; in early October 2026 the 2027 marathon was still open while the half marathon and 10 km were full, with a waiting list. Runners without an FFA licence upload a PPS (Pass Prévention Santé) to their runner account; licence holders upload their FFA licence.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by OC Sport
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Nantes Marathon 2027?
The Nantes Marathon 2027 is on Sunday 25 April 2027. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Nantes Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 4 January 2027, a 20-week plan on 7 December 2026. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Nantes Marathon course fast?
Yes. It is known as a fast, steady course with few changes of rhythm, and the men's course record was lowered to 2:15:19 in 2026.
What is the time limit?
The maximum time to finish the marathon is 5h45.
Where are the start and finish?
The start is at Les Nefs of the Machines de l'Île and the finish at the Parc des Expositions de la Beaujoire, so it is a point-to-point course.
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