Paris Marathon 2027 for American Runners: Bib, Travel and Race-Day Guide
If you're an American runner looking at a marathon in Europe, Paris is probably near the top of your list. It's easy to see why.
26.2 miles through one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a flat and fast course, an early April date that fits a US winter training block, and a trip the whole family will enjoy.
The 2027 edition is now called the ASICS Marathon de Paris. It's on Sunday, April 4, 2027, and it's the race's 50th edition, so expect a big one.
I'm a running coach based in France and I've run 15 marathons, Paris included, along with Chicago, New York, Berlin and London. In this guide I've put together what you need to know as an American: how entries work, what to do if you missed the ballot, the medical requirement that catches most foreign runners off guard, the trip, and race day itself.
Paris Marathon 2027: key facts
Date: Sunday, April 4, 2027 (50th edition)
Distance: 26.2 miles (42.195 km), World Athletics certified
Name: ASICS Marathon de Paris (ASICS takes over from Schneider Electric as title partner in 2027)
Organizer: Cadence Running United, new organizer for 2027 to 2030
Entry fee: €169 for the general public, same price whenever you sign up
Field size: one of the biggest in the world, with more than 58,000 finishers in 2026
Course: the 2027 route will be revealed a few weeks before the race. The organizers have announced more of the Seine riverbanks and central Paris
How to get a bib for Paris 2027
Since 2026, Paris entries go through a ballot (a lottery), not first come, first served.
The 2027 ballot ran from September 8 to September 30, 2026. Entering was free, you only pay the €169 if you're drawn, and then you have 72 hours to confirm. You can also enter as a team of 2 to 6 runners: if one of you gets drawn, the whole team is in.
Got in? Great, skip ahead to the training section. Missed the ballot or didn't get picked? You still have four options.
1. The official resale platform. Runners who can't make it can resell their bib through the organizer's official platform, which opens on December 1, 2026. It's the cleanest way to get in after the ballot. Don't buy a bib from someone outside that platform: running under another person's name gets you disqualified, and you won't be insured.
2. A charity bib ("dossard engagé"). You get a guaranteed entry in exchange for raising at least €420 for one of the partner charities. If you've seen charity programs at Boston or New York, it works the same way.
3. A tour operator package. The organizer works with official tour operators who sell an entry bundled with a hotel. For a 50th edition, these go fast. If you'd rather have a trip built around you than a group package, that's exactly what Race + Travel does: we work with these channels and plan everything else your way.
4. Aim for 2028. The next ballot should open again in September 2027. Put it in your calendar, enter as a team with your running buddies to improve your odds, and use the extra year to show up in Paris in the best shape of your life.
The medical requirement nobody tells you about
This is the one that surprises almost every foreign runner.
In France, you need proof that you're fit to run a mass-participation race. For Paris, that proof is the Parcours Prévention Santé (PPS), a short online health-awareness course on the French Athletics Federation website that gives you a digital certificate at the end.
A medical certificate from your US doctor isn't accepted anymore.
The PPS costs a few euros, takes about 20 minutes and is valid for a year. It has to be done within the window set by the race rules, so plan on doing it in early 2027 rather than months ahead, and check the official rules for the exact deadline.
No PPS, no bib at the expo. Do it early, download the certificate and keep a copy on your phone.
Bib pickup at the expo
Bibs are picked up in person at the race expo during the three days before the race. There's no race-morning pickup, so you want to be in Paris by Thursday or Friday.
Bring your passport, your registration confirmation (the QR code) and your PPS certificate.
The 2027 venue and opening hours haven't been announced yet. In past editions the expo was at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, in the south of the city, easy to get to by metro.
My tip: go Thursday or Friday morning, then get off your feet. Expo on Saturday afternoon plus a full day of sightseeing is the classic way to show up at the start line already tired.
Planning the trip from the US
When to fly
Paris is 6 hours ahead of New York and 9 hours ahead of LA.
For a Sunday race, landing Wednesday or Thursday gives you two or three nights to adjust. Friday works, but you'll be racing jet-lagged.
If you can, take the overnight flight, sleep on the plane, and get outside in the daylight as soon as you land.
Where to stay
Race morning in Paris starts early and the metro gets packed. Staying within walking distance of the start, or on a direct metro line, takes a lot of stress out of the morning.
I'll update this guide with the best neighborhoods once the 2027 course is published. In past editions the start was on the Champs-Élysées, which made the 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissements the easiest places to stay.
Traveling with family
Paris is a great marathon to watch. The course goes past the big landmarks and the metro makes it easy for your crew to see you at several points.
Build the trip around the race first, then add everything else. That's what Charline, our French travel planner, does with Race + Travel: flights, a hotel near the start, restaurants that work with your pre-race nutrition, and things to do for the people coming with you, before and after race day.
Training for Paris from the US
A spring marathon means a winter build.
For most Americans, Paris 2027 means a 16 to 20 week plan starting somewhere between late November and early December 2026. Three things matter more for Paris than for a race at home.
Train for a flat, fast course. Paris rewards even pacing. Put blocks at goal marathon pace into your long runs so that holding a steady effort for 26.2 miles feels familiar.
Rehearse race week. Early start, different food, a few days of walking around a city. Do your last long run two weeks out, taper properly and keep race week simple.
Practice fueling with what you'll actually have. The aid stations have water and some food, but the gels and drinks aren't the US brands you know. Bring your own tested gels in a belt. And from 2027 the race goes cup-free, so you'll need your own soft flask or collapsible cup.
If you want a plan built around your schedule, your current level and this race in particular, that's what I do every day as an online marathon coach: a personalized plan on TrainingPeaks, daily feedback on every run you upload, and a race strategy for Paris.
Race day in Paris: what to expect
A huge, festive, international field with runners from more than 150 countries, wave starts based on your predicted finish time, and big crowds at the landmarks.
Early April is usually 45 to 60°F, perfect for running. But a cold start and a sunny finish are both common, so wear layers you can throw away.
Start conservatively, enjoy the first 6 miles through the city and save something for the last third. In past editions that's where the course ran along the Seine and through the Bois de Boulogne before the finish.
And if you want to stay clear of the famous "Mur du 30", the wall at kilometer 30, read my guide on how to avoid hitting the wall in a marathon.
Ready to run Paris?
Whether you already have your bib or you're still working on it, the earlier you plan, the better your race will be.
Tell me about your goal in the short form below. We'll set up a free 30-minute call to look at your training, your timeline and your trip.
FAQ: Paris Marathon 2027
When is the Paris Marathon 2027?
Sunday, April 4, 2027. It's the 50th edition of the race.
How much does the Paris Marathon cost?
The general public entry fee for 2027 is €169, roughly $180 to $190 depending on the exchange rate. Charity entries require raising at least €420.
Can I still get a bib for Paris 2027?
The ballot closed on September 30, 2026, but you can still get in through the official resale platform (from December 1, 2026), a charity bib or an official tour operator package.
Do I need a medical certificate to run the Paris Marathon?
You need the digital Parcours Prévention Santé (PPS) certificate from the French Athletics Federation. A certificate from your US doctor isn't accepted.
Is the Paris Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes. The course is World Athletics certified and Paris times are accepted by the B.A.A. as qualifying times.
Can someone else pick up my bib?
The organizer sets the pickup rules each year. In past editions it was in person only, so check the 2027 rules before you travel.
Sources: official race website asicsmarathondeparis.com and the organizer's registration announcements. Course, expo venue and race rules for 2027 will be updated as they're published.