France
Nice–Cannes Marathon 2026
Sunday 8 November 2026 · confirmed date
16 days to go
Key facts
- Race day
- Sunday 8 November 2026
- Confirmed by the organisers
- Start
- 08:00
- local time
- Course
- Mostly flat · Point to point
- Promenade des Anglais, Nice (opposite the Théâtre de Verdure) to Esplanade des Alliés, Cannes (opposite the Palais des Festivals)
- Total climb
- 173 m
- Course record, men
- 2:07:25
- Millaw Abrha, 2018
- Course record, women
- 2:28:15
- Zenebu Fikadu, 2022
- Finishers
- 10,415
- in 2025
- Time limit
- 6h00
- First held
- 2008
The race
About the Nice–Cannes Marathon
The Nice–Cannes Marathon, officially the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes, follows the Côte d'Azur from the Promenade des Anglais in Nice to the Croisette in Cannes. First held in November 2008, it is described by its organisers as France's biggest marathon after Paris, with around 15,000 marathon places, and nearly 30% of the 2025 entrants came from abroad.
The setting is the draw: the sea beside you for most of the way, palm-lined promenades and an autumn date when the Riviera is usually still mild. Music is spread along the route every 2 km. It suits first-time marathoners and travellers as much as runners chasing a time on a mostly flat course.
Course
The Nice–Cannes Marathon course
The start is on the Promenade des Anglais, opposite the Théâtre de Verdure. You run west around the Baie des Anges, past Nice airport, then through Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Cagnes-sur-Mer and Villeneuve-Loubet, staying close to the sea. The second half takes you through Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, then Golfe-Juan, before the final stretch into Cannes and the finish on the Esplanade des Alliés, opposite the Palais des Festivals. The course is mostly flat, with about 173 m of total climb, most of it in the second half. Use the first half to settle into an even rhythm: sun or a headwind along the coast can make the closing kilometres harder.
Race-day weather
Early-November mornings on the Riviera are usually mild, around 11-16°C at the 8:00 start and often sunny, though rain and wind are possible.
Train
Training for the Nice–Cannes Marathon 2027
Under twelve weeks to go is short for a marathon block, so these dates count down to the edition after, on Sunday 14 November 2027.
| Plan | Starts on |
|---|---|
| 24 weeks | Monday 31 May 2027 |
| 20 weeks | Monday 28 June 2027 |
| 16 weeks | Monday 26 July 2027 |
| 12 weeks | Monday 23 August 2027 |
For this course
For an early-November race, most of your build-up falls in late summer and early autumn, so schedule long runs early in the day. The climbing comes late, so include rolling terrain in your long runs and practise holding your form on short rises after 30 km. Sun and wind are the main variables along the sea: train in a cap, rehearse your drinking plan, and be ready to tuck into a group if the wind picks up. Nine pacer groups, from 3:00 to 5:00, can help you stay even.
See the marathon pace chart or a sample sub-4 plan.
Print a pace band for the Nice–Cannes Marathon, with the race clock at every kilometre.
Entry
How to get a place
Registration opens well ahead of race day and fills up: the 2025 edition sold out six months early, and the 2026 marathon is sold out. The race is open to runners born in 2007 or earlier. You need an FFA Athlé Compétition, Athlé Entreprise or Athlé Running licence (or a Pass J'aime Courir completed by a doctor), or a PPS (Pass Prévention Santé) valid on race day. Bibs are not handed out on race morning.
Every marathon lottery date for 2027 → Which marathons have no lottery? →Organised by Azur Sport Organisation
Official websiteQuestions
Frequently asked
When is the Nice–Cannes Marathon 2026?
The Nice–Cannes Marathon 2026 is on Sunday 8 November 2026. The organisers have confirmed the date.
When should I start training for the Nice–Cannes Marathon?
Count back from race day: a 16-week plan for the 2027 edition starts on 26 July 2027, a 20-week plan on 28 June 2027. Most runners need 16 to 20 weeks; 12 is the shortest block worth doing.
Is the Nice–Cannes Marathon course flat?
Mostly, yes. It follows the coast with about 173 m of total climb, most of it in the second half.
What is the time limit?
The maximum race time is 6 hours, with intermediate cut-offs along the course, for example 3:00 of race time at km 21.
How do I get back from Cannes to Nice after the race?
Your bib works as a train ticket between Nice and Cannes, in both directions, all day on race day. Bags left at the start in Nice (Place Masséna) are taken to the finish area in Cannes.
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