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Paris Marathon: Is the next edition going to be on the ring road?

undefined undefined 14 avril 2025 undefined 17h00

undefined undefined 13 avril 2026 undefined 10h25

The Editor

© OSTILL is Franck Camhi / Shutterstock

This Sunday, April 12, 2026, nearly 60,000 runners (a record!) took part in one of the most prestigious sporting events in the capital: the Paris Marathon. And while this legendary race celebrates its 50th anniversary this year (but its 50th edition will be next year, thanks to COVID), the event provided a great opportunity for our brand new mayor to express their desire to shake things up a bit.

Almost a year ago, on April 15th, while he was announcing his candidacy for the Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire shared with us a completely crazy project: to have the Paris Marathon run through the périphérique. It's a dream he has yet to bring to life, but he reaffirmed it this Sunday, announcing his intention to consult neighboring cities. 


50 years and major changes

It was in a op-ed published on the Huffpost that Emmanuel Grégoire first revealed his desire to use the Paris périphérique as the next stage for the Paris Marathon. A «  political and urban gesture   for someone who was then just a...

The future potential of the periphery, hopes to redefine the image of the ring road, which has been far too criticized by both its users and local residents. This decision to break from tradition comes just as the race that started in 1976 celebrates its 50th anniversary.

For Grégoire, this measure is part of a desire to enhance the image of this road, but also to stop seeing it as a barrier between Paris and the surrounding cities, and instead view it as a link between the capital and Greater Paris. He even draws a parallel with the Seine, which is becoming a giant swimming pool, and the candidate wants to make the ring that surrounds Paris a place to walk, bike, or run through. In short, the project is clear: to transform it into a shared, calm, green space – a place for breathing and no longer asphyxiation.


A setting that might spark debate

Well, on paper, we can understand the motivations behind this wish, which would mark a major upheaval in the history of the ring road, completely deserted by cars. Good news for the environmental and noise pollution. But here’s the thing: when you know that the Paris Marathon offers a unique race through the most beautiful neighborhoods of the city, as well as exciting excursions into the heart of the two woods that border it, it’s hard to believe that the thousands of foreigners who come each year to participate in the event would be equally excited about the idea of running on the périph'…