Avignon Marathon set for inaugural race on September 27, 2026

A new fixture on the French road racing calendar is aiming to become a must-run event in the years ahead. On Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4,000 runners will take part in the inaugural Avignon Marathon. Here’s everything you need to know about the event.

A fast course with PB potential

The course has been designed to showcase the city. Starting on Boulevard Saint-Roch, in front of the central station, runners will follow the city walls, pass Avignon City Hall and the Opera House, then head towards Barthelasse Island, Europe's largest river island, where the finish will be held. It is an almost completely flat route, with barely 80m of elevation gain over the 42.195km marathon distance and 60m for the half marathon.

The course, unveiled in the spring, is described as “a course for everyone. For those who want to discover the city and those who want to run fast”, say the organizers.

Vaucluse finally gets a marathon on the calendar

Organized by Provence Sport Organisation under the leadership of Bertrand Delhomme and Christophe de Cecco, who are already behind the Mont-Ventoux Half Marathon, the Avignon Marathon fills a gap in the French road racing calendar. Despite its heritage and appeal, Avignon had never previously hosted a marathon on the national scene.

The two Vaucluse natives, from Bédoin and Althen-des-Paluds respectively, are behind the project, with ambitions to make the Avignon Marathon a leading event in the department. For Bertrand Delhomme, its significance extends well beyond sport: “As well as being a sporting event, a marathon also creates real economic momentum for the local area.”

With almost 80 marathons taking place in France in 2026, Vaucluse had been something of an exception. “Here in Vaucluse, we were missing this distance,” says Bertrand Delhomme. The Avignon Marathon changes that.

Local partners backing the event

The first edition is backed by the City of Avignon, as well as NGE, a construction and civil engineering group with deep roots in Provence.

Koesio, a digital services company, and Kookabarra, a fresh fruit juice producer, are also among the first partners to join the organizers.

Race-bib collection and a charitable cause

Race bibs must be collected from the Partners Village in the city center on Friday or Saturday only. Bib collection will not be possible on race day.

Where and when can you collect your race bib?

Address: Espace Jeanne Laurent, near the Palais des Papes: Friday, September 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The organizers are also offering charity bibs, with proceeds donated to the AV'ENCE Fund at Avignon Hospital.

The 3,500 entries initially made available sold out in less than a month after registration opened in late 2025, forcing the organizers to increase the field to 4,000 runners. It is a strong signal for a race with no previous edition to its name, and the organizers are already aiming to turn it into a genuinely international event from 2027, with a second edition planned for late February that year.

Don’t miss the chance to take part in the Avignon Marathon, a race promising a festive, friendly atmosphere for its inaugural edition.

Full event details