IRONMAN has announced that the city of Versailles will host a new IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in France. The inaugural edition of IRONMAN 70.3 Versailles is scheduled to take place on July 12, 2026, featuring a course that runs through the grounds of the Château de Versailles.
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most visited attractions in France, welcoming 8.2 million visitors annually. According to IRONMAN, the event will provide a culturally rich backdrop, utilising the landmark’s Baroque architecture and geometric gardens.
The race will begin with a swim in the ‘Pièce d’eau des Suisses’ (‘The Pond of the Swiss’), a 13-hectare basin constructed between 1679 and 1682. The one-loop bike course will then take athletes through the City of Versailles and the villages of the Chevreuse Valley.
For the run, athletes will return to the palace grounds, passing through the ‘Potager du Roi’ (‘King’s Kitchen Garden’). The finish line will be located on the ‘Avenue de Paris’, directly in front of the Palace.
Versailles is situated 15 minutes by train from Paris, making it accessible for both local and international athletes. Average temperatures in the region during July are approximately 25°C.
The addition of Versailles comes during a period of growth for triathlon in France. The country recently overtook Germany as the second largest triathlon market in Europe for IRONMABN. In 2025, around 12,000 French athletes registered for an IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 event, representing a 14% increase on 2024.
Thibault Vellard, Regional Director of the South-West & Middle-East at IRONMAN, said “We have long had our sights set on Versailles as a host venue, with its proximity to Paris combined with its unique heritage and breathtaking setting, meeting our ambition to deliver premier experiences for our athletes.”
IRONMAN’s 2026 French season includes a number of events:
- IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence on May 17, 2026
- IRONMAN Tours Metropole-Loire Valley on June 14, 2026
- IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Nice in June 2026
- IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée in early July 2026
- IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy and IRONMAN Vichy on August 23, 2026
The season will culminate with the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice on September 12–13, 2026.
Thomas Veje Olsen, Managing Director of IRONMAN Europe, Middle East and Africa, said “Demand for IRONMAN 70.3 races in Europe is at an all-time high with 26 IRONMAN 70.3 events for this season already sold out, including all spring races.
“The addition of IRONMAN 70.3 Versailles is welcome news for athletes who thought they had missed the opportunity to race in Europe this summer.”
General registration for the Versailles event is set to open on February 12, 2026.
