Paris is bracing for one of the largest running events on the French sporting calendar as the 48th edition of the 20 KM de Paris takes over the capital’s streets on Sunday, with 35,000 participants representing 110 nationalities expected at the starting line.
A Scenic Route Through Parisian History
The race, which has become a flagship fixture in France’s running calendar, offers participants a unique opportunity to traverse the western districts of Paris while passing some of the city’s most celebrated monuments.
Runners will set off from the Pont d’Iéna before making their way through a route that includes:
- The Trocadéro and Avenue Marceau
- The Arc de Triomphe
- The Bois de Boulogne
- The Seine quays and the Louvre
- A finish at the Champ-de-Mars
Record Participation and Growing Diversity
The average age of competitors stands at 39, with women accounting for 43.8 percent of the field — approximately 15,330 participants. The event’s patron this year is Stéphane Diagana, a two-time world champion in the 400-meter hurdles and 4×400-meter relay, who has served as a Sport-Health ambassador for Harmonie Mutuelle since 2021.
Elite Athletes Join the Field
Both amateur and professional runners will share the same course. Among the women, Alice Finot — who finished fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Paris 2024 Olympics and still holds the European record in the discipline — will headline the field alongside Manon Trapp, the 2024 winner.
In the men’s competition, Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse, who placed second in 2025, will face competition from Hassan Chahdi and Clément Leduc, among others.
Seventeen athletes will compete in wheelchairs, and for the first time, prize money will be identical for able-bodied and handisport athletes. Relay teams will also be organized behind joëlettes — single-wheel chairs designed for people with disabilities.
Weekend Schedule and Logistics
The race village opens at Stade Émile-Anthoine in the 7th arrondissement at Place de Sydney, operating Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Participants must collect their bibs during these hours, as no pickup will be available on Sunday morning.
On Saturday, the 20kids de Paris event will give younger runners their moment on the Champ-de-Mars, with a 1,000-meter race for ages 6 to 9 at 2 p.m. and a 2,000-meter race for ages 10 to 13 at 2:45 p.m. A portion of the proceeds — 3 euros from each bib and 12 euros from each pack — will benefit the Association Grégory Lemarchal, which fights against cystic fibrosis.
Race Day Timing and Broadcast
On Sunday, handisport athletes will depart at 8:45 a.m., followed by the main field at 8:55 a.m. and elite runners at 9 a.m. The race will be broadcast on ICI Paris Île-de-France beginning at 8:40 a.m.
