Bordeaux Marathon returns in 2026 after seven-year absence

November 8, 2026 is a date for every keen runner to mark in their calendar, whether they are preparing to complete their first marathon or add another 42.195 km race to their record. The announcement was made by Bordeaux Athlé president Caroline Pujol, following the resounding success of the half marathon, which drew 24,000 runners onto the streets of Bordeaux on Sunday, November 9. It was a genuine celebration of running, with Jason Pointeau and Mélody Julien winning the half marathon, while Hugo Hay and Javote Guéret took the 10 km titles.

A fresh start after seven years away

Removed from the local race calendar for undisclosed reasons linked to Ironman France, the private organiser working with Stade Bordelais at the time, the marathon had been shelved. Its last edition, held at night, attracted nearly 18,000 participants.

The Bordeaux club, which has organised its 10 km race for 21 years and launched a half marathon in 2023, had been considering a return for the flagship distance for some time. « Because our 10 km was doing well, our first idea was to organise a popular, competitive FFA-certified half marathon that stayed true to the club’s direction. But we always had in mind that, if it worked, we would expand the programme », recalls Stade Bordelais president Caroline Pujol.

The marathon project, already well advanced, was intended to form part of a « day dedicated to running ». « The main idea isn’t the marathon itself, but this running day, of which it is one part », she explains. The merger of the 10 km and half marathon was also brought forward by four years of work on the Pont de Pierre, the iconic crossing linking the two sides of the city: « We were supposed to do it a year later, but it meant we didn’t have to shut down the city centre for two days. »

That was when the club decided the time was right to bring the marathon back. As for handing part of the organisation to an external provider, the option remains open: « For now, we’re handling everything from A to Z because we like to stay in control of what we do. But we’re not closed to it if necessary. We’ve developed some excellent skills in-house. »

A major event takes shape

The 2026 edition will take place entirely in daylight, on a course running through the heart of the metropolitan area and capable of accommodating up to 4,000 runners. It is already an « ambitious » target, the president acknowledges, with strong competition at that time of year: Nice-Cannes on the same day, Toulouse one week earlier and Lille in late October. « The marathon attracts fewer people than the 10 km or half marathon. Even though lots of people run, they are demanding », she points out.

Four distances will be available: 5 km, 10 km, half marathon and marathon, giving everyone the chance to find the race that suits them. More than 700 volunteers will be involved in bringing the event to life, marking the return of a major fixture to Bordeaux. Fuelled by the growing popularity of running, the marathon is shaping up to be one of autumn 2026’s highlights. « As an athletics club, we want a fast course and strong performances », she stresses, without planning to attract the world’s very best runners.

The exact course and the opening date for entries will be announced soon. « The route hasn’t been finalised yet: the half marathon course is set, but we’re still negotiating the marathon. Do I go along this bank or the other one? We also need to know where the roadworks will be. What I can say for now is that it will run from the right bank to the left bank, with the start on the right bank, unlike the half marathon, which starts on the left bank. »

After the success of the half marathon, Bordeaux Athlé is pressing ahead with its ambition: to give the city back an iconic event capable of bringing thousands of runners together around their shared passion, in « a flat city », with only a few climbs over bridges « but if it goes up on one side, it goes down on the other », she says with a smile. It is still a major challenge for this local club, which is taking it on in the open. « Nobody was expecting it from us. Well, now everyone is, because we’ve announced it. But that’s precisely the real challenge: to make it happen… and make it last. »

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