The 18th edition of the French Riviera Marathon Nice-Cannes has reached full capacity months ahead of the event on November 8, 2026. A record 25,000 participants across four race categories will take part in the event, which is organized by Azur Sport Organisation alongside title partner the Alpes-Maritimes Department and presenting partner Kiprun.
Registration for the main marathon closed on April 14, reaching 15,500 participants, followed by the 20km route on April 21 with 3,000 participants and the 2x21km option on April 27 with 2,500 participants. The final relay category sold out a month earlier than last year with 4,000 runners, helping the event achieve its highest total registration count to date.
The course starts on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice and finishes along the Croisette in Cannes. Cumulatively, nearly 210,000 participants have registered since the inaugural edition in 2008. This year, 113 nations will be represented, with international competitors accounting for 31% of the field. Female runners represent 35% of the total entries for the full marathon distance.
The race holds an FFA International label, is AIMS-certified, and is a candidate event for the World Marathon Majors. Ethiopian runner Abrha Milaw holds the men’s course record of 2h 07′ 25″ set in 2018, while Zenebu Fikadu, also from Ethiopia, holds the women’s record of 2h 28′ 15″ set in 2022.
For the 2026 race, the organisers are introducing an updated aid station configuration designed to eliminate single-use plastic cups along the course. Water stations will connect directly to the municipal drinking water network, with additional water points added to allow participants to refill their personal containers. According to the event organising team, this system will remove 3 tonnes of single-use plastic, representing approximately 8 tonnes of CO2 emissions linked to production.
A new staggered start system will also be implemented on race day to manage runner flow. The wave schedule will proceed as follows:
- 07:57 CET – Para-athletes / Handisport runners
- 08:00 CET – Elite runners, sub 3h, 3h, and 3h15 runners
- 08:25 CET – 3h 30 and 3h 45 runners
- 08:50 CET – 4h and 4h 15 runners
- 09:15 CET – 4h 30, 5h+ runners, and joëlette teams
The event schedule includes the Marathon Expo at the OCEANICE Convention Centre at the Port of Nice, opening on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 12:00 to 19:00 CET, continuing Friday, November 6, from 10:00 to 19:00 CET, and Saturday, November 7, from 09:00 to 20:00 CET. Race day is Sunday, November 8, 2026, with the first finish expected around 10:07 CET at Esplanade des Alliés in Cannes.
