Avignon Marathon 2027
- Next event : Sun, March 14, 2027Date confirmed
- Last event : Sun, September 27, 2026
The event in a few words
On the Pont d'Avignon, we dance, we dance..." Except that now, we run there too! 🏃 And we promise, you'll feel like dancing much more after your race than before! 💃
Yes, you read that right! 👀 The most famous city in the Vaucluse is finally getting its own marathon in the city 🎉. Meet in Avignon in March for a second edition that promises to be mem-o-rable! 🔥 The plan? A route that guides you from the Palais des Papes 👑 to the banks of the Rhône, through narrow streets and across the iconic Pont Saint-Bénézet 🌉. And a significant bonus 🎁: running in March in Avignon is THE perfect time ☀️. You'll enjoy cool temperatures 🌡️, that famous Provençal "golden hour" that lasts all day 🌅, and open café terraces for your post-marathon recovery 🥐.
The organizers have promised: the route will be "fast and accessible" 🙌. Translation? No crazy hills that will turn your thighs into mush 🍖. But careful, accessible doesn't mean boring! You'll alternate between avenues, perfect for building your rhythm 🚀, and more technical sections in the historic center 🏛️, between the ramparts. A true knight of modern times! 🛡️ All with a clear goal: to mix performance and tourism 🎯 to give you great memories. With a bit of luck, the scenery might make you forget that your legs are on fire 🔥. And if 42.195 km seems a bit too ambitious, don't panic! A half marathon will also be on the program. Half the distance and 100% of the scenery! 🎨 A great way to warm up for the next editions 😉. You'll be running in a UNESCO-listed site 🌍: the Palais des Papes👑, the 14th-century ramparts 🏰, the Notre-Dame-des-Doms cathedral ⛪... You'll run your kilometers in a setting that even Hollywood wouldn't dare invent 🎬. You'll be among the finishers of an event that is likely to become a must-do 📈. In 10 years, you'll be able to say "I was there from the very first editions" 😏 (it's classy, it impresses people at the office 💼).
Well, let's not kid ourselves: running 42 km really works up an appetite! 😋 And you've come to the right place to fill your belly 🍽️. Avignon and its region are a paradise for food lovers 😍. On the menu: tapenade, anchoïade, ratatouille, and of course the famous calissons that will sweeten the end of your race 🍯. Not to mention Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines to celebrate your achievement 🍷 (to be enjoyed in moderation, of course 😅). Provençal markets are full of local products, like goat cheeses 🧀. You're going to love it! As for sightseeing, there's plenty to do between two stretches 🧘♂️: the Palais des Papes 🏰, the Pont Saint-Bénézet for a souvenir photo 📸, the medieval ramparts for a digestive stroll. Go and discover the hilltop villages of the Luberon 🏘️ (Gordes, Roussillon and its ochres 🎨), or Les Baux-de-Provence for landscapes that will take your breath away even more than your race 🌄. More of a nature person? The Luberon Regional Park and the Alpilles Park 🌲 are each less than an hour away by car 🚗. In short, between culture, gastronomy and nature, you'll have a hard time leaving! 🤩
So, ready to dance run on the bridge of Avignon? We're waiting for you at the start! 🎶
5 reasons to join this race
A word from the organizer:
"After a first edition full of emotions, we are very happy to invite you to Avignon on March 14, 2027. This edition is marked by the certification of our courses, which are ready to welcome great champions! Plenty of entertainment will be on the program, with more than 550 volunteers mobilized for this big celebration!"
A distance for every taste
MarathonTOP
Half Marathon
- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 9:00 AM
- 42.195 km
- 200+ runners in the last edition
A few more words
The Avignon Marathon and its 80 mD+ are waiting for you for its very first edition! 🫵 You're in luck, the organizers have thought of everything so you can perform, thanks to a fairly flat course with only 80 mD+. The start will be given in front of the Gare Centre, boulevard Saint-Roch, in the heart of Avignon.
From the very first meters, the scene is set. You run alongside the medieval ramparts of Avignon 🏰 for nearly 4 kilometers: these 14th-century ramparts stretch for almost 5 km. The route then takes you to the foot of the Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic building of the medieval world, before gliding toward the Place de l'Horloge 🕰️ and in front of the Avignon Opera 🎭. The first aid station arrives just in time to catch your breath before the rest of the historic tour.
Around km 4, you pass in front of the Hôtel de Ville, then the course brings you at km 5 to the foot of the legendary Pont Saint-Bénézet 🌉, the famous 12th-century Pont d'Avignon. After this first part, very urban and rich in historical heritage, the course gradually descends toward the banks of the Rhône 🌊 between km 6 and km 9, offering a nice transition between the historic city and a more open and flowing setting 🌳. It's the ideal stretch to find your marathon pace and relax your shoulders after the excitement of the start.
Around km 10, you cross the Rhône and head onto the Île de la Barthelasse, the largest river island in Europe. The change of scenery is immediate and radical: you leave the city asphalt behind for good for flat, open paths lined with vegetation 🌳, with a breathtaking view of the ramparts of Avignon and the Rocher des Doms from the banks. The big loop on the island is the heart of the course, between approximately km 10 and km 38. It is the most "nature" portion of the race, the one where your legs can express themselves freely on perfectly flat terrain, with the Rhône as your traveling companion 🌊. The aid stations are regularly spaced throughout this section, allowing you to manage your effort calmly on this long riverside straight 🥤. The northern tip of the island, around km 18, marks the symbolic halfway point of the marathon. The edges of the island also offer you changing panoramas over both banks of the Rhône, between the tree-lined banks of the Chemin des Berges and the silhouettes of the city on the Avignon side.
The climb back toward the southern tip of the island, between km 33 and km 38, is the strategic section of the marathon, the one where your legs start to have opinions of their own. But the view of the Pont d'Avignon from the other bank, which you can see in line with the river, offers one of those moments of grace that make you momentarily forget your quads 😅. One last aid station for the final kilometers, and you tackle the home straight.
The finish takes place on the Chemin des Berges, in a bucolic and unusual setting directly at the water's edge 💧, far from the classic finishes on city-center squares. A first edition that promises to be historic for the Vaucluse.
Half Marathon
Road Running- Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 8:00 AM
- 21.0975 km
A few more words
The Avignon Half Marathon and its 60 m D+ are just waiting for you! 🫵 With a relatively flat course, conducive to great performances, everything has been designed to make this edition memorable 😄. The start will be given in front of Gare Centre, boulevard Saint-Roch, in the heart of Avignon. The course is certified by the French Athletics Federation (Bronze Label).
From the very first kilometers, you will be immersed in history as you run alongside the medieval ramparts of Avignon, for nearly 4 kilometers. The route then leads to the foot of the Palais des Papes, before passing through the Place de l’Horloge 🕰️ and in front of the Opéra d’Avignon 🎺. Around km 4, you will run alongside the Hôtel de Ville and then approach the legendary Bridge Saint-Bénézet 🌁, the famous Pont d’Avignon from the 12th century, partially destroyed by floods of the Rhône, at km 5.
After this first very urban and touristy section, the course gradually descends toward the banks of the Rhône 🌊, offering a transition between the historic city and a more open, flowing setting 🌳, ideal for finding your cruising pace around the 8th or 9th kilometer. Runners then cross the Rhône and head onto the Île de la Barthelasse, the largest river island in Europe. The scenery changes radically: you leave the city asphalt behind for flat, open paths lined with vegetation 🌳, with an unobstructed view of the ramparts of Avignon and the Rocher des Doms from the riverbanks.
The loop on the island, which extends roughly between the 10th and the 20th kilometer, is the heart of the course. It is the most “nature” portion of the race, where your legs can express themselves freely on flat terrain, with the Rhône as your travel companion. The climb back toward the northern tip of the island offers one last panorama of the Pont d’Avignon seen from the opposite bank, before tackling the final meters. The finish takes place on the Chemin des Berges, in a bucolic and unusual setting right at the water’s edge, far from classic city-center finishes, for a conclusion as refreshingly different as it is memorable 😍.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Bib pick-up takes place at the Espace Jeanne Laurent, in the Partner Village, in the city center of Avignon:
on Friday, March 12, 2027, from 4 pm to 8 pm
on Saturday, March 13, 2027, from 10 am to 8 pm
Bibs are handed out only upon presentation of the pick-up card sent by Finishers the week before the race. You may also be asked for a form of ID. You can collect someone else's bib by presenting their pick-up card and a copy of a valid ID of the person concerned. No bibs are handed out on Sunday, March 14, 2027, and none are sent by mail.
The races start on Sunday, March 14, 2027, on Boulevard Saint-Roch in Avignon, in front of the Avignon Centre train station:
8 am for the half marathon
9 am for the marathon
Runners are assigned to start pens according to their performance, and all pens start at the same time.
This year, if you are unable to take part (injury, unavoidable commitment, etc.), you can resell your bib to someone you know (using their email address) or to a third party (subject to finding a buyer) via the official platform, which is dedicated and secure, until March 1, 2027 at 11:59 pm. Once the transaction is validated, you will receive a refund of 80% of the price of your bib, excluding booking fees, and you will no longer be registered. Only bibs purchased on Finishers are eligible: options, invitations and companion tickets cannot be resold. No direct exchange or resale is permitted.
No, it is not mandatory. However, you will need to present either an FFA license valid on the date of the race (Athlé Compétition, Athlé Entreprise or Athlé Running), or a Pass' J'aime Courir completed by a doctor, or a PPS (Parcours de Prévention Santé) certificate number valid as of March 10, 2027. Santé, Encadrement and Découverte licenses are not accepted.
Yes, here they are:
The marathon is open to runners born in 2008 or earlier, in the Espoirs to Masters categories.
The half marathon is open to runners born in 2010 or earlier, in the Juniors to Masters categories.
Participants who are minors on the date of the race must include with their registration a parental or legal guardian authorization, as well as the health questionnaire for minors. If there is no questionnaire, a medical certificate less than six months old is required.
For the Marathon: €75
For the Half Marathon: €43
FFA license holders receive a 5% discount on the rates.
Yes. You have 5h45 to finish the marathon and 2h45 to finish the half marathon, which corresponds to a minimum pace of 8'10"/km. Intermediate cut-offs also apply:
45 minutes of racing at km 5, 1h25 at km 10 and 2h05 at km 15, on both races
2h55 at km 21 and 4h05 at km 30, on the marathon only
Solid and liquid refreshments are provided throughout the course. Their locations will be communicated in the runner's guide, sent by email before the race and available on the official website.
Two pens have controlled access on each race, on request from the organization with proof of a 2025 or 2026 performance:
marathon: elite pen, under 2h40 for men and under 3h for women; preferred pen, under 3h for men and under 3h20 for women
half marathon: elite pen, under 1h15 for men and under 1h22 for women; preferred pen, under 1h22 for men and under 1h30 for women
On each race, the top three men and top three women overall, as well as the winner of each FFA category (no multiple prizes), are rewarded. All Marathon and Half Marathon finishers receive a medal. The awards ceremony takes place near the finish area.
To become a volunteer at this race, you can go directly to the dedicated page on the race website.
If you still have questions, you can contact the organizers by email: contact@avignon-marathon.com
You can check the race rules here
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