Prom’Classic 2026 in Nice opens entries for France’s most competitive 10K

Nice’s Prom’Classic, one of France’s fastest 10Ks and home to one of the deepest fields, returns on January 4, 2026. Entries open Tuesday, October 7 at 11 a.m., and the coveted spots could disappear in record time, just like the runners racing along the Promenade des Anglais early next year. Marathons.com has everything you need to know about the Riviera classic.

In recent years, race entries have become as hard to come by as concert tickets. Nice’s Prom’Classic is a perfect example. A fixture on the running calendar, the race will celebrate its 26th anniversary on January 4, 2026, with the same huge popular following. Some runners look forward to this classic all year and describe it as “the most important day of the year”, including rising star Louis Michel, who ran 29:03 in 2025, the 16th-fastest time ever by a French U23 athlete. Held in the heart of Nice, the race is one of France’s finest running events.

Whether or not you make New Year’s resolutions, it is a great way to kick off 2026, solo or with your training group. The race’s popularity has continued to grow for a quarter of a century, and it has sold out three years in a row, several weeks before race day. In 2025, the 10K was full by November 18, 2024. If you want to be one of the lucky ones, you need to be ready to move. Entries open Tuesday, October 7 at 11 a.m. An introductory rate of €19 is available to the first 1,000 entrants. (The special opening rate has already sold out, with all spots snapped up in just 15 minutes, ed.)

Azur Sport Organisation is limiting the field to 15,000 runners to ensure the race runs smoothly, 3,500 more than last year. Those extra spots are unlikely to remain available for long. As every year, the event will also support a good cause, donating €1 from each entry to its charity partner, Banque Alimentaire des Alpes-Maritimes.

A fast out-and-back course along the Promenade des Anglais

Every edition sends a wave of runners down one of the world’s most famous avenues, the Promenade des Anglais. The race starts outside the Théâtre de Verdure. Five kilometres later, runners make a 180-degree turn, the only one on the course, near Phoenix Park and Nice Airport. Then it is five more kilometres at full speed to the finish. It is hard to find a faster course than the Prom’.

For the occasion, runners get to enjoy this iconic seafront boulevard, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the road closed to traffic. It is a perfectly flat, billiard-table course built for chasing down a personal best. The atmosphere is highly festive, with large crowds lining the route, while the setting is spectacular, offering uninterrupted views across the Baie des Anges.

A race for every level

This iconic fixture on the running calendar welcomes everyone from first-time racers to elite athletes, bringing together every kind of passionate runner. Few races in France have reached this level of stature. In 2025, women made up 40% of the field, while 10% of entrants came from outside France. The 10K is an ideal distance for newcomers to the sport and seasoned racers alike.

Pace groups can help guide you to your target time, with pacers for 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 minutes. The race is listed on the official French Athletics Federation calendar, making it a qualifier for the French 10K Championships.

Last year, the event’s oldest competitor, Charles Stuyven, crossed the finish line in 1:48:31 at the age of 91. This celebration of running was won in 2025 by Azeddine Habz in 27:44 after an impressive solo run. The women’s race delivered an equally memorable performance, with Sarah Madeleine matching the French record in 31:15. That national mark was later lowered by Nice native Alessia Zarbo, who ran 31:00 in Prague on September 10, 2025.

Its exceptionally flat, fast out-and-back course, deep field, stunning setting and often more forgiving weather than elsewhere make it a highly sought-after race for anyone chasing a fast time.

The 2025 edition by the numbers (source: Stadion)

✔ 579 runners under 35 minutes

✔ 207 under 32 minutes

✔ 113 under 31 minutes

✔ 52 under 30 minutes

✔ 10 under 29 minutes

✔ 4 French records: Sarah Madeleine (31:15, seniors), Martin Hubner (29:01, U20), Emmanuel Meyssat (29:38, M2), Fekih Lahcene (31:08, M4)

Entries for one of the year’s most eagerly awaited classics open on October 7. You will need to be quick to secure one of the 15,000 spots made available by the organizers. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced racer, the Prom’Classic, a true celebration of running, never disappoints. It is the perfect way to start 2026 with running at the heart of it.

✔ Find all the event information