Running News Daily

The Paris Marathon has entered a new era, adopting a lottery system for the first time as demand for one of the world’s most iconic road races continues to surge.

A staggering 166,000 runners from 165 countries registered for the inaugural lottery for the 2027 ASICS Marathon de Paris, giving the race a level of demand far beyond the number of places available. The 2027 edition, scheduled for April 4, will also mark the marathon’s 50th edition.

The scale of the interest is striking. The 2026 Paris Marathon attracted 58,853 participants, meaning the number of lottery applicants for next year’s race is almost three times the size of last year’s starting field. With the event traditionally welcoming around 50,000 to 60,000 runners, securing a place has suddenly become a matter of chance rather than simply being quick enough to register.

The move represents a significant departure from the marathon’s long-standing first-come, first-served registration model. In previous years, runners had to be ready when entries opened, with places capable of disappearing rapidly as demand continued to grow. For 2027, however, every eligible application entered the same draw, removing the race against the clock that once determined who secured a bib.

The extraordinary response also underlines the growing international appeal of the Paris Marathon. Applicants for the 2027 race came from 165 countries, reflecting the global attraction of a course that takes runners through some of the French capital’s most recognisable landmarks, including the Champs-Élysées, the Seine, Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower.

The lottery has also changed the experience for runners before race day. Results began being communicated from October 1, with successful applicants given 72 hours to confirm their places and complete payment. Any places that are not confirmed are expected to be offered again through subsequent lottery rounds.

The demand is not limited to the marathon. The 2027 HOKA Semi de Paris also attracted nearly 110,000 lottery applicants, meaning the two major Parisian road races generated close to 280,000 applications combined.

Paris has therefore reached a point where obtaining a race bib can be almost as challenging as preparing to run the 42.195-kilometre course itself. Although the Paris Marathon is not an Abbott World Marathon Major, the introduction of a lottery highlights just how dramatically demand for major international road races has grown.

For the runners who secure one of the coveted places, the next challenge will be preparation for April 4, 2027. For those left out of the draw, the message from this year’s numbers is clear: competition for a place on the streets of Paris is becoming increasingly intense.