Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes

Location: Nice to Cannes

Country:  France
Website:  https://www.marathon06.com/2026/
2025 Marathon Date:  09/11/2025
2026 Marathon Date:  08/11/2026
Winning Time 2025: 2:13:30

% Sub-3s:  2-5%
# Sub-3s:  100-499
Total Runners: 10-20k

The Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice–Cannes offers one of the most spectacular point-to-point marathon experiences in Europe, guiding runners along the sunlit coastline of the French Riviera from Nice to Cannes. Established in 2008 by the Département des Alpes-Maritimes, the event was conceived as a new annual marathon showcasing the region’s blend of Mediterranean landscapes, elegant seaside towns and distinctive Côte d’Azur culture. Its debut edition set a world record for first-year participation with 10,000 runners, and the race has since grown into the second-largest marathon in France after Paris, attracting thousands of domestic and international athletes each year.

The course has remained remarkably consistent since its inception. It begins on Nice’s iconic Promenade des Anglais, near the Albert I Garden, where the combination of palm trees, early-morning light and sweeping sea views creates a memorable starting atmosphere. From there, runners follow approximately 95 percent of the route alongside the Mediterranean Sea, tracing a smooth, scenic path through a series of coastal towns. The course passes Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer before continuing into Villeneuve-Loubet, where seaside promenades and Riviera architecture shape the mid-race experience. Further along, the marathon enters Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, adding a blend of maritime charm and pine-lined stretches typical of this area. The coastal run through Vallauris Golfe-Juan offers more Mediterranean vistas before the route turns toward its final destination.

The finish on the Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes provides a suitably glamorous conclusion. Runners arrive near the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, home to the Cannes International Film Festival, where the atmosphere blends Riviera elegance with the exhilaration of completing a major point-to-point marathon. The flat nature of the course and its sheltered coastal setting make it an appealing choice for first-timers and experienced runners alike.

Throughout its history, the marathon has earned formal recognition, including IAAF Bronze Label status in 2013, and continues to be celebrated for combining athletic challenge with the “art de vivre” of the French Riviera. With its uninterrupted sea views, iconic towns and consistently fast terrain, the Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice–Cannes remains a standout race on the international calendar.