Run In Lyon 2026: 36,000 runners expected for record-breaking edition

Participation continues to rise

Last year, 33,000 runners took the start. This year, organisers are expecting 36,000 across all races. The ASO-run event draws runners from well beyond the Lyon area: three out of four participants come from outside the Lyon basin, while 4.3% are international runners. It’s a participation record for the event, confirming its status as one of France’s biggest mass-participation running events outside Paris.

The field is also seeing plenty of fresh faces: 57.1% of entrants will be taking part in Run In Lyon for the first time. Women account for 44% of participants, the same proportion as in 2025.

The marathon hits a new milestone

The biggest change this year is the marathon field, which is expected to exceed 7,000 runners, a first for the race. The flagship distance continues to attract more runners, including plenty taking it on for the first time.

As for entries, the 10K and half marathon are sold out through standard registration. Charity entries are still available for both races, allowing runners to take part while supporting a good cause. A few final marathon places remain.

On the performance front, the 2025 edition left its mark on the race’s history. In the men’s race, Mustapha Salmi won the marathon in 2:23:24, while Jeanne Garreau set the women’s marathon record in 2:43:34.

© Run in Lyon

Sunday, October 4 schedule

Starts are staggered by wave. Make sure you arrive before the time shown on the race documents you received, not at the actual start time.

Saturday is for the kids

The weekend gets underway the day before: on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., the Marathoon’s event will welcome 1,000 children aged 5 to 12 for their first taste of racing in a festival atmosphere. Distances are adapted to each age group, with the focus firmly on discovering running in a simple, joyful setting. Young people with disabilities will also take part.

A revamped course, with no tunnel

The major change to the 2026 route is that none of the courses will go through the Croix-Rousse tunnel. All races start in Vieux-Lyon, near Quai Romain Rolland, and finish at Place Bellecour.

The marathon takes runners on a full circuit of the metropolitan area. After the start, the route follows the Saône riverbanks north towards Vaise, Île Barbe and Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, as far as the Paul-Bocuse bridge. Runners return along the opposite bank through Caluire-et-Cuire before heading to Place des Terreaux.

The route then heads towards Parc de la Tête d’Or and the Cité Internationale, before following the Rhône riverbanks to Gerland. The final section crosses the Raymond-Barre bridge, passes the Musée des Confluences and follows Quai Rambaud before the finish on Place Bellecour. With 293 m of elevation gain, the marathon remains a fast urban course, but it isn’t completely flat. Runners will need to save something for the second half.

The half marathon (184 m of elevation gain) and 10K also pass some of central Lyon’s landmarks, from the Presqu’île to the Saône and Rhône riverbanks. The 10K has a new route too, avoiding the tunnel.

Aid stations and pacers

The key thing to remember: there will be no bottles or single-use cups. Aid stations are connected to the City of Lyon water network, and runners are asked to bring their own container: bottle, soft flask, reusable cup or hydration pack. Organisers will also collect leftover food and sort the waste.

Pacers will be on hand to help runners hit their targets and stay together in groups, identifiable by their large feathers. They will cover marathon times from 3:15 to 4:30, half-marathon times from 1:35 to 2:10, and 10K times from 43 minutes to 1:05.

© Run in Lyon

© Run in Lyon

© Run in Lyon

© Run in Lyon

The Village and bib collection

The Village will be set up on Place Bellecour:

Important: no bibs will be handed out on Sunday morning. You must visit the Village on Friday or Saturday. Coaches and experts will also be there. You’ll find the Harmonie Mutuelle health and wellbeing area, with advice from podiatrists, quizzes and a workshop to make your own supporter sign, as well as the Terre de Running space, offering gait analysis and equipment advice.

A race with a purpose

But Run In Lyon is about more than the clock. Inclusion and solidarity are once again at the heart of the weekend. The untimed, unranked 5K Solidarity Run lets people join the celebrations without chasing a performance. This year, €4 from every entry will be donated to AFG Autisme, the race’s charity partner. The organisation will be involved throughout the weekend: more than 30 autistic young people will take part in the Marathoon’s, while the same number of adults will line up for the Solidarity Run.

An awareness area and a quiet zone will be available at the Village. In partnership with the Fédération Française du Sport Adapté, the association and Run In Lyon have also created an “Inclusion Guide for a Running Event” for race organisers. After the race, AFG Autisme will receive a donation to develop its “AFG Sport et Autisme Rhône” programme.

Charity entries

Charity entries also play an important role. This year, the organisers are offering nearly 400 charity bibs and more than €80,000 to be shared among 19 organisations. BINOMES, which pairs visually impaired people with guides, will be on the start line with 10 pairs and will host an introduction to guiding. Arrangements are also in place for para athletes.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Ligue contre le cancer will run an information area on breast cancer screening, featuring an educational breast examination model. Secours populaire will also organise a sports kit collection. If you have good-condition gear you no longer use, bring it along and give it a second life.

Inclusion also extends to the organisation itself. The volunteer team welcomes young people, people with physical disabilities and displaced people who are not currently involved in sport.

See you on the riverbanks on Sunday morning. Good luck to everyone racing, and if you’re cheering from the sidelines, make plenty of noise!