Paris Marathon 2027: everything you need to know to land a bib through the lottery

So much for the traditional “first come, first served” system. For 2027, the new organizers, Cadence Running Organisation, will oversee the race from 2027 to 2030 and have opened a long enough application window for everyone to try their luck without logging in the second registration goes live. It is a major shift that brings Paris in line with several major international marathons. And with the field size still under consideration, although a figure of around 60,000 runners could be announced, the race for one of those coveted bibs is set to attract plenty of attention.

Paris Marathon 2027: mark Sunday, April 4 in your calendar

It was officially confirmed on Tuesday, so there is now a date to circle in your calendar: Sunday, April 4, 2027. The 50th edition will be the first under the new ASICS Marathon de Paris name, with ASICS becoming the race’s title partner. The name change marks a new era for the Paris marathon, now organized by Cadence Running United after nearly three decades under the ASO banner. The final course has not yet been announced. The organizers say it will be unveiled at the beginning of 2027.

The big change: bibs will be allocated by lottery

This is the defining new feature of the 2027 edition. Until now, getting a Paris Marathon bib meant being in the right place at the right time and managing to get through the huge rush when registration opened. That system is changing completely. For the general public, bibs will now be allocated through a lottery. The application window will remain open for three weeks and, crucially, the date you apply will have no bearing on your chances of being selected. In other words, there is no need to camp out in front of your computer at 1:59 p.m. on opening day.

Entering the lottery is free, and no payment is required when you apply. If selected, the bib will cost €169, with a 5% discount for holders of an FFA license.

How do you enter the Paris Marathon 2027 lottery?

The process is much simpler than the old system. Just visit the official ASICS Marathon de Paris platform during the registration window and enter the lottery. Once your application has been submitted, all that is left is to wait for the result. That is where the new system really delivers: whether you apply at 2:01 p.m. on September 8 or at 11:58 p.m. on September 30, your chances are exactly the same, according to the organizers.

Can you improve your chances of being selected?

There is no “secret strategy” to improve your odds in the lottery. However, the organizers have also introduced an especially appealing option for anyone who wants to run with others: the Team Spirit scheme allows groups of 2 to 6 people to enter together. If one member is selected, the entire team is selected. For a group of friends, a couple or a bunch of runners training together for their first marathon, it is certainly an option worth a close look.

What if I am not selected?

This is one of the important subtleties of the new system. Not being selected in the first draw does not necessarily mean your chances are over. Unsuccessful applicants will automatically remain in the running for any subsequent draws until all available bibs have been allocated.

Every runner selected in the lottery has 72 hours to confirm their bib and make the payment. Once that deadline passes, the spot goes back into the pool and can be offered to another applicant. This allows the organizers to fill the field progressively while giving initially unsuccessful candidates another shot.

How much does the Paris Marathon 2027 cost?

The other notable change concerns pricing. For the 2027 edition, the standard public entry fee is a flat €169. The tiered pricing structure that could encourage runners to buy their bibs as early as possible is gone. That makes sense alongside the new system: since registering early no longer offers any advantage, the price no longer needs to rise according to how soon you buy. There are also other ways to enter, including the “Charity Bibs” scheme, which allows runners to take part while supporting a partner charity and meeting a defined fundraising target (€85 participation fee / minimum €420 fundraising target for the marathon).

An official resale option if plans change

The marathon does not, of course, end when the bib is allocated. An injury, a work trip, a family issue, a change of plans... Over several months of marathon training, there are plenty of reasons why a runner may no longer be able to make the start line. The organizers will therefore provide an official platform for putting a bib back into circulation when a runner can no longer take part. There is one important condition: registration is personal, and the bib cannot simply be handed directly to someone else. The transfer must go through the official process provided for that purpose.

The Paris Half Marathon is moving to a lottery too

The change is not limited to the headline distance. The HOKA Semi-marathon de Paris 2027 will also adopt a lottery system. One important clarification, following some early reports: the 2027 Paris Half Marathon, with a flat entry fee of €79, is officially scheduled for Sunday, March 7, 2027, not March 4. Here too, the aim is to move away from the “first come, first served” approach and make securing a bib a more relaxed process.

Our advice for future marathoners

If the Paris Marathon is part of your 2027 plans, do not waste time trying to find the perfect moment to apply. Just enter before the lottery closes. Then train as if you are going to be selected. Because that may be the real change: for a few weeks, everyone is on the same starting line, without yet knowing who will earn the privilege of taking their place on April 4.