After 31 years away, the marathon makes its big comeback to Lille on 25 October 2026. The organisers are unveiling a route linking the centre of Lille to several communes in the metro area, with a finish on the Esplanade of the Champ de Mars.
The marathon event, organised from 1986 to 1995, was then followed by separate races: half marathon, 10 km and 5 km. These formats attract a broad public of runners of all levels, with a relaunch in 2022 and success that resulted in a total of 18,000 participants in 2025.
The return of the 42.195 km is being announced with a high number of runners from the start line. When registrations opened, 18,000 bibs are said to have been snatched up in barely two hours, and for the new edition 20,000 participants are being announced for the flagship event, compared with 15,000 for the half marathon, with more than 12,000 runners on the waiting list.
The start is scheduled for 11:15, at a time presented as unusual, in order not to encroach on the half marathon. The half-marathon start must be given at 8:30, with the aim of allowing runners in the region not to have to travel the day before, while accommodation would be fully booked.
The route passes through ten communes and alternates between city centre stretches and more open sections, with the ambition of a particularly fast, flowing course. It is stated that the first kilometres are concentrated in the centre, and then, from the 12th km onwards, the route heads towards the south of the metro area, before progressively bringing runners back towards the centre and a finish on the Esplanade of the Champ de Mars.
