Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes

The Race

History

On 9 November 2008, the first Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes started on the Promenade des Anglais and ran along the coast to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. Its 10,000 places had gone by September. Azur Sport Organisation had built it as a sports-tourism project with the Alpes-Maritimes département and the seven towns on the route, and two years later it hosted the French marathon championships.

The idea has not changed since: a one-way run west along the Riviera from Nice to Cannes. The roads shift with works and security, but the start is still on the Promenade and the finish on the Croisette. The weekend now also includes a 20 km race from Nice to Villeneuve-Loubet, a two-person team marathon and a relay. The organiser counts nearly 210,000 entrants from about 90 countries since 2008, and nearly 22,000 runners in 2025, almost a third from abroad and nearly half running their first marathon. The 2025 race sold out about six months in advance.

It is fast at the front. Abrha Milaw of Ethiopia set the course record of 2:07:25 in 2018, and Zenebu Fikadu, also of Ethiopia, set the women’s record of 2:28:15 in 2022. The race is a full member of AIMS, holds the French athletics federation’s International label and has been part of the AbbottWMM age-group world rankings since 2022. The 18th edition is on Sunday 8 November 2026, and one euro from every entry goes to the Banque Alimentaire des Alpes-Maritimes.

The course

The marathon starts on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, by the Jardin Albert Ier, and finishes on the Croisette in Cannes near the Palais des Festivals, 25.6 km away in a straight line. It follows the sea for almost all of its length. From Nice it runs west past the airport, crosses the Var into Saint-Laurent-du-Var at km 7 and continues along the shore through Cagnes-sur-Mer and Villeneuve-Loubet to Antibes. From km 22 it goes all the way round the Cap d’Antibes, then through Juan-les-Pins and Golfe-Juan to Cannes.

The organiser gives 100 m of climbing, and it is unevenly spread. The first 21 km are flat, never more than about 11 m above the sea. The second half has all the hills: short rises on the Cap d’Antibes, the steepest an 18 m climb to the high point of 30 m at km 28, and a 22 m climb over 3 km on the old coast road out of Golfe-Juan, before a drop into Cannes and a flat last 3 km on the Croisette. Wind off the sea is the other factor.

Km 0 to 7: the Promenade des Anglais. The waves set off along the Baie des Anges on one of the widest roads in Nice, with the sea on the left. From km 5 the course runs beside the airport on the Promenade Corniglion-Molinier, then crosses the Var on the Pont Napoléon III into Saint-Laurent-du-Var at km 7. It is flat and open, and the wide road makes it tempting to go too fast.

Km 7 to 21: along the shore to Antibes. The course follows the seafront through Saint-Laurent-du-Var (relay change at km 8.7), Cagnes-sur-Mer past the racecourse (km 11.7) and Villeneuve-Loubet by the stepped towers of the Marina Baie des Anges (km 16.8), where the 20 km runners finish. It then runs along the Route du Bord de Mer into Antibes and reaches halfway there. The ground stays between 2 and 9 m. Crowds gather in the towns and thin out between them, and bands play about every 2 km.

Km 21 to 31: round the Cap d’Antibes. Past Antibes station at km 22, the road rises 12 m to the ramparts of the old town at km 23, then follows the shore round the cape by the Boulevard de Bacon, with small rises and falls. The steepest climb of the race comes at km 27 to 28: 18 m in about 1.5 km, with one kilometre at 2%, up to the high point of 30 m by the Boulevard de la Garoupe. The road then drops 20 m over the next 2.3 km towards the west side of the cape.

Km 31 to 38: Juan-les-Pins and the climb out of Golfe-Juan. Juan-les-Pins at km 31.5 and the Boulevard du Littoral are flat and close to the water. From km 34 the course climbs 22 m over 3.3 km through Golfe-Juan, past the station at km 35 and the relay change at about km 36, and on up the old Route Nationale 7. The steepest part, 11 m, is between km 36 and 37; then the road drops 17 m into Cannes.

Km 38 to 42.2: the Croisette. The last 4 km are nearly flat, past Port Canto at km 40.7 and along the Croisette to the finish near the Palais des Festivals. The seafront here is open to any headwind, which costs most at this point.

Chip timing includes control points along the route, and runners who miss one can be disqualified. Sweep points at km 10, 21.1, 30 and 35 enforce the six-hour limit, counted from when the last runner crosses the start line.

Course Map

One way along the Riviera: the Promenade des Anglais, the shore to Antibes, round the Cap d’Antibes, and on through Juan-les-Pins and Golfe-Juan to the Croisette. Tap a marker for details, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.

Pacers

Nine official pacers run at 3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45 and 5:00, each carrying a large flag in a colour for its time. The start is in waves: in the rules published for 2026, wheelchair athletes go at 07:57; elite runners and the 3:00 and 3:15 groups at 08:00; 3:30 and 3:45 at 08:25; 4:00 and 4:15 at 08:50; and 4:30 and slower at 09:15. Runners with a marathon under 3:00 in 2025 or 2026 can ask for a preferential bib at the front.

What to wear

The Riviera in November is mild, not warm, and it is wet. Météo-France records an average high of 17.0°C and low of 9.7°C for November at Nice airport, but also 138 mm of rain, the most of any month, falling on about eight days. With an 08:00 start, most runners race in the low to mid teens. The course follows the sea almost the whole way, so a headwind or crosswind can change how the day feels, and sunshine on the open seafront can make it feel warmer than the air.

Wear what you would for a cool spring race, and check the forecast. Bring an old top or a rain poncho for the start, especially in the later waves, which can wait more than an hour after the first gun. Most importantly, add your drinking vessel to your race kit: a soft flask or hydration vest that you can refill on the move. Headphones are allowed only if you can still hear what is around you.

Entry

The 2026 marathon is sold out. Entry is direct, with no ballot, and the price rises as places sell: for 2026 it was 66 euros for the first 1,000 entrants or until 30 November 2025, then 76, 86 and finally 96 euros, with FFA licence holders paying 62, 72, 81 and 91 euros. Those prices include a 1 euro donation to the Banque Alimentaire des Alpes-Maritimes. The 2025 race sold out about six months before race day, so enter as soon as 2027 registration opens.

The race is open to runners born in 2007 or earlier. Anyone without an FFA licence needs a PPS, the federation’s online health module, valid on race day. Entry includes the train pass between Nice and Cannes, a bib printed with your first name, a Kiprun 17-litre backpack, a medal, a Kiprun finisher T-shirt, bag transport from Nice to Cannes, timing and photos.

Entries are personal and cannot be transferred. Cancellation cover bought at entry can refund 80% of the fees in covered cases; it cannot be added later. Official travel partners, including Marathon Tours & Travel in the UK, sell packages that may include a race place. Runners aged 40 and over can score points in the AbbottWMM age-group world rankings.

Fast Runner / GFA Standards

There is no guaranteed-entry route. Runners with a sub-3:00 marathon from 2025 or 2026 can apply for a preferential bib, which places them in the first wave; it does not guarantee a place.

Race Weekend

Expo

The Marathon Expo is at the Centre des Congrès Nicéa on the Port de Nice, Quai Amiral Infernet, on Thursday 5 November from 12:00 to 19:00, Friday 6 November from 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 7 November from 09:00 to 20:00. Bibs are not posted, and none are handed out on race day. Bring photo ID, your collection voucher and your PPS if you have not already provided it.

Someone else can collect your bib and kit if your file is complete: they need your collection voucher and your ID, which can be a copy or a photo on a phone. Bicycles, pets and suitcases are not allowed in the expo. The organiser publishes a chart of busy times, and sells flasks and cups there for anyone not yet equipped for the no-cup course. The expo is on the far side of the old town from the start, a 20 to 30-minute walk from the Promenade hotels.

Getting to the Start

The start is on the Promenade des Anglais by the Jardin Albert Ier, with the first wave at 08:00 and the last at 09:15. Bags go to the drop at Place Masséna, by the water mirror, and the organiser carries them to the finish area in Cannes. The 2026 bag and pen opening times had not been published by mid-September. Use only the official bag, and leave valuables behind.

From a hotel in Nice. Walk. The Promenade and the Carré d’Or are a few minutes from the start; the Nice-Ville station area is 15 to 25 minutes on foot.

From Cannes by bus. Marathon runners can buy a 15 euro bus option in advance; a white wristband comes in the bib envelope. Buses leave Cannes port between 05:30 and 06:00 and drop runners at Place Masséna. There are no sales on the day.

From elsewhere by train. Your bib is a free ZOU! train ticket between Nice and Cannes all day. The race-morning timetable was still to be published in mid-September; check that an early train reaches Nice-Ville in good time, then walk about 15 minutes to the start. Supporters can buy an 8 euro companion pass for unlimited travel between Nice and Cannes on race day.

Nutrition on Course

There are no cups anywhere in 2026. Water points are fed from the mains, and you fill your own flask, hydration pack or folding cup, with volunteers on hand to help. Full stations with food and drink are at km 10, 15, 19.5, 25, 30.5, 35.5 and 38.5. Extra water-only points are at km 5, 7.5, 13, 17, 22, 27, 29, 32.5, 34, 37 and 40. The organiser had not published the food list by mid-September.

With water every 1.5 to 3 km, a small soft flask is enough for most runners; refill it at the full stations and run through the water-only points when you can. Carry your own gels. The second half, round the Cap d’Antibes and up out of Golfe-Juan, is where fuel matters, so take something at km 25 and km 30.5. Outside assistance is not allowed, and runners seen dropping rubbish away from the bins can be disqualified.

Spectating

The coastal railway runs beside much of the course, so supporters can see a runner several times by train. Buy the 8 euro companion pass for unlimited travel between Nice and Cannes on race day, and check the timetable in race week. The Croisette finish is the best single place to be. Bands play about every 2 km.

Plan A: Nice, Antibes, Cannes. Watch the start on the Promenade, walk to Nice-Ville and take the train to Antibes. The course passes the station at km 22 and the ramparts at km 23, a short walk away. Then take the train to Cannes for the finish. A 4-hour runner in the 08:50 wave reaches Antibes at about 10:55 and finishes at about 12:50.

Plan B: Golfe-Juan and the finish. Golfe-Juan station is on the course at km 35, where the last climb begins. A 4-hour runner in the 08:50 wave passes at about 12:10. The next stop west is Cannes, for the finish.

Plan C: the Croisette. Spend the morning in Cannes and watch runners come along the Croisette from Port Canto. This is the easiest plan with children, and the best place to meet afterwards.

Post-Race Food

The finish is in central Cannes, so there is no transfer before eating. The Bar du Majestic at the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic, beside the Palais des Festivals, opens at 10:00 and is the closest place to sit down, at a price. Café Crème Brunch Club on Boulevard Jean Hibert, on the old port side, serves brunch until the afternoon. La Libera, an Italian trattoria on Rue Commandant André a few streets inland, is the pasta option.

Book ahead: thousands of runners and supporters finish in the same few streets. Check Sunday opening hours for 8 November before relying on any of them.

Where to Stay

The usual rule is to stay near the finish. This race is point to point between two cities, and the finish is 25 km from the start, so the better choice for most runners is Nice. The morning is the hard part to organise; the journey back from Cannes is a free train ride.

Promenade des Anglais and Carré d’Or, Nice

The Promenade des Anglais and the Carré d’Or behind it are the easiest base. The start and the Place Masséna bag drop are a short walk, with no need for early transport. Choose a room a street back from the busiest bars for a quieter Saturday night.

Jean Médecin and Nice-Ville

The streets around Avenue Jean Médecin and Nice-Ville station have plenty of hotels and put the train back from Cannes on your doorstep. The start is a 15 to 25-minute walk.

Vieux Nice and the port

Vieux Nice and the port are closest to the expo and full of restaurants. The start is still walkable, but pick a room away from the bar streets.

Cannes

Central Cannes, around the station and the Croisette, puts you beside the finish, which suits families. Race morning means the 05:30 bus or an early train to Nice.

Antibes and Juan-les-Pins

Antibes and Juan-les-Pins sit between the two on the railway and on the course. They are pleasant for a longer stay, but neither the start nor the finish is walkable.

Recommended hotels

Booking timeline

Enter the moment registration opens for the next edition; the race sells out months ahead. Book a refundable room in Nice as soon as you have a place, and decide early whether you would rather be in Cannes. The organiser’s accommodation partner, Revolugo, has negotiated rooms. Book flights or trains once entry is confirmed. Complete your PPS in the autumn so it is valid on race day, and buy the bus option at entry if you plan to stay in Cannes. In race week, check the train timetable, the bag-drop times and the forecast, and pack your flask.

See & Do

Two in Nice near the recommended hotels, two in Cannes by the finish, and one on the course in between.

Vieux Nice and the Cours Saleya

About 0.5 km (0.3 miles) from the start. The old town’s narrow lanes and the Cours Saleya market are flat and close together, a good short walk on the Friday or Saturday that also takes you towards the expo.

Colline du Château, Nice

About 1 km (0.6 miles) from the start. The hill above the old town has the best view over the Baie des Anges and the start. It is reached by steps or a lift, and in winter it closes at about 18:00. Save it for before the race.

The Croisette and the Palais des Festivals, Cannes

At the finish. The seafront boulevard, the Belle Époque hotels and the Palais des Festivals, home of the film festival and the tourist office, are all within a few minutes’ walk of the line.

Le Suquet, Cannes

About 0.8 km (0.5 miles) from the finish. The old quarter on the hill above the port, with a view back over the bay. The climb is steep, so leave it for the day after if the legs object.

Antibes old town

On the course at km 23, and on the railway between Nice and Cannes. The ramparts, the Provençal market and the harbour make an easy half day. Check museum hours for Monday.

After the Race

November is off-season on the Riviera: quieter towns, shorter days, some businesses on reduced hours and a real chance of rain. The coastal railway makes it easy to carry on without a car. Start gently, with Antibes or Menton, and leave steep towns and long days for later in the trip.