Lausanne Marathon 2026 – Running Festival Switzerland

What to expect in 2026

The Lausanne Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday 25 October 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland, bringing together runners for a marathon, half marathon, 10 km race, 10 km walking and 10 km Nordic walking. The event combines competitive road racing with a large running festival around Lausanne and Lake Geneva, with the main start at Place de Milan and the finish and race village at Bellerive-Plage. The marathon is open to participants aged 18 and over, the half marathon from age 16, the 10 km from age 14, and the walking and Nordic walking events from age 10.

The 2026 edition also continues the event’s established tradition of combining an international field with mass-participation running. The courses take runners through Lausanne and along the Lake Geneva shoreline, extending toward the Lavaux area before returning toward the finish. The marathon has a maximum running time of 6 hours 30 minutes, while the half marathon has a four-hour limit and the 10 km events have a two-hour limit.

Every registered runner receives an official technical long-sleeve shirt when collecting the race bib and an official finisher medal at the finish. Results are based on net time, with rankings established from participants’ timing-chip passages over the start and finish mats.

The 2026 event also supports the association Léman Hope. According to the organisers, the charity supports young people in cancer remission through sailing and adventure activities in Switzerland.

Match/event dates

The Lausanne Marathon 2026 is held on Sunday 25 October 2026.

The event day includes five principal running and walking competitions:

• Marathon – 42.195 km
• Half Marathon – 21.097 km
• 10 km Race
• 10 km Walking
• 10 km Nordic Walking

The marathon and half marathon begin at Place de Milan, while all listed races finish at Bellerive-Plage. The official programme also includes the Marathon Expo and race-bib collection before race day.

The Marathon Expo takes place at the Bellerive site on Friday 23 October from 3:00pm to 6:00pm and Saturday 24 October from 11:00am to 6:00pm. Runners can also collect their bibs and shirts at the Auguste Piccard sports facility on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Stadium & sports venue

The Lausanne Marathon does not use a traditional stadium as its principal venue. Instead, the race is staged across Lausanne and neighbouring lakeside communities, with Place de Milan serving as the main starting area and Bellerive-Plage serving as the finish area and festival village.

Place de Milan is located in the southern part of Lausanne and provides the starting environment for the marathon, half marathon and 10 km race. The starting area is divided into blocks, allowing runners to be released progressively rather than having every participant cross the start line simultaneously.

Bellerive-Plage is the main arrival site. It provides facilities for runners, including changing areas, showers, toilets, bag-storage arrangements and the event village. The finish area also becomes the centre of post-race activity as runners complete their distances and collect their medals.

The Auguste Piccard sports complex is another important event location. It is used for race-bib and T-shirt collection and provides changing rooms and showers.

Full fixture or event schedule

The 2026 race-day programme is concentrated on Sunday 25 October.

Half Marathon

The half marathon starts at 8:40am from Place de Milan. Participants are released through nine starting blocks, with departures every four minutes. The official maximum time is four hours.

Marathon

The marathon starts at 10:05am from Place de Milan. Four starting blocks are scheduled, with departures every three minutes. The maximum race time is 6 hours 30 minutes.

10 km Race

The 10 km race begins at 2:00pm from Place de Milan, with nine starting blocks departing every four minutes. The race has a maximum time of two hours.

10 km Walking

The 10 km walking event begins from approximately 2:30pm. The event uses a separate starting block and finishes at Bellerive-Plage.

10 km Nordic Walking

The 10 km Nordic Walking event begins from approximately 2:33pm, immediately after the walking start.

The organiser’s theoretical arrival schedule lists the first half-marathon runner at approximately 9:45am, the final half-marathon arrival around 12:20pm, the first marathon arrival around 12:15pm and the final marathon arrival around 4:45pm. The first 10 km runners are expected around 2:20pm, with the final arrivals around 4:40pm. These are indicative times rather than guaranteed finishing times.

Teams, athletes & participants

The Lausanne Marathon is an individual mass-participation event rather than a team-based tournament. Runners compete within gender and age categories, while team standings are also available for the marathon, half marathon and 10 km.

For the team ranking, a group must contain at least five runners competing over the same distance, regardless of gender. The five best times are added together to determine the team result. Company registrations can also be arranged through the organiser.

The individual categories cover a wide range of ages. The marathon includes junior categories and H20 through H70 categories for men and corresponding women’s categories. The half marathon begins at age 16, while the 10 km race is open from age 14. Walking and Nordic Walking are available from age 10.

The field typically includes recreational runners, club athletes, experienced marathoners, international competitors and elite-level participants. The 2025 edition included athletes from Switzerland, Kenya, France and several other countries, demonstrating the international nature of the event.

Tournament format & competition structure

The event is organised as a series of separate road races rather than a knockout tournament. Each distance has its own start procedure, age categories and classification.

The marathon covers 42.195 km, while the half marathon covers 21.097 km. The 10 km competition provides a shorter road-running option, while walking and Nordic Walking allow participants to experience the same festival atmosphere without entering the running races.

Results are calculated using net time. The organiser states that rankings are established from the participant’s passage over the timing mats at the start and finish. Participants are also classified according to their order at the finish line.

Awards are provided to the first three participants in each category. Results are published after the event, and runners can download their official certificates through Datasport.

Match/event times

The main 2026 start times are:

• 8:40am: Half Marathon
• 10:05am: Marathon
• 2:00pm: 10 km Race
• From 2:30pm: 10 km Walking
• From 2:33pm: 10 km Nordic Walking

The half marathon uses nine start blocks, while the marathon uses four. The 10 km race also uses nine blocks. Block departures are staggered to help manage the large field and course capacity.

The theoretical first finish times are approximately 9:45am for the half marathon, 12:15pm for the marathon and 2:20pm for the 10 km race. Actual finish times naturally depend on the pace and number of competitors.

Ticket types

The Lausanne Marathon uses race registration rather than conventional spectator tickets. Participants select their preferred distance and age category during registration.

Published 2026 registration prices, converted at approximately CHF 1 = USD 1.21, are:

• Marathon: $111.32
• Half Marathon: $76.23
• 10 km Race: $61.71
• 10 km Nordic Walking: $56.87
• 10 km Walking: $55.66

The registration fee includes the official medal and technical long-sleeve T-shirt.

An optional engraved plaque for the medal is available for approximately $8.47. The plaque can display the participant’s surname, first name and race time and is sent after the race.

Registration closes according to the number of participants registered for each race, so availability can differ between distances. In 2026, the official contact page indicated that the half marathon had already sold out and had moved to a waiting list.

Ticket release phases

The Lausanne Marathon does not use a conventional multi-phase ticket-release system. Registration opens in advance of the race and remains available while places exist in each distance.

The organiser states that registration closes according to the number of registered participants for each race. This means that popular distances can reach capacity before the official registration deadline. The 2026 half marathon had already reached capacity and was operating a waiting list when the event information was published.

Participants can register online through Datasport. Postal or bank-transfer registration is also available under the organiser’s procedures, although the official information warns that late payments after the specified deadline will not be processed.

Bib transfers and distance changes are subject to deadlines and availability. For 2026, the organiser allowed certain changes before the September deadline, with limited on-site changes possible during Marathon Expo subject to availability.

VIP & hospitality options

The Lausanne Marathon is primarily a participant-focused running festival rather than a premium spectator event with conventional VIP grandstands.

There are, however, additional services and partner arrangements around the event. The Marathon Expo provides an opportunity for runners to visit partner and promotional stands before race day, while the Bellerive site acts as the main gathering point for participants.

Accommodation partnerships are also available. The official website currently promotes preferential rates at the Mövenpick Hotel Lausanne for Lausanne Marathon runners, providing an option for participants seeking accommodation connected with the event.

For corporate groups and clubs, team registration can be arranged. Company registrations involve additional administrative arrangements and can be organised through the marathon office.

Stadium & event rules

Participants must wear their official race number clearly visible on the front of their clothing. The number is used for timing and race control, and the organiser states that bib checks are performed at the finish. Starting in the wrong distance without making an approved distance change can result in disqualification.

Outside assistance is prohibited. The official regulations do not permit cyclists, runners without bib numbers or motorised vehicles to provide assistance to competitors on the course. The event operates under applicable international road-race regulations.

The organiser may alter routes, refreshment points, timing points or start arrangements when circumstances require it. In exceptional conditions, a distance can be modified, diverted or cancelled for safety or organisational reasons.

The marathon has a six-hour-thirty-minute maximum. Runners who do not reach the specified control point by the stated time can be removed from the course and transported toward the finish.

How to get there

Lausanne is a major city on Lake Geneva and has strong rail, road and public-transport connections. The marathon’s main start at Place de Milan and finish at Bellerive-Plage are both within Lausanne’s urban area.

Participants travelling from outside Switzerland can generally reach Lausanne by rail via Geneva, Bern or other Swiss cities. Lausanne railway station provides connections to the national rail network, while local public transport connects the city centre with the lakeside areas.

Because the marathon causes road closures and traffic restrictions, travelling by public transport is particularly useful on race day. The organiser publishes local traffic information because streets around Lausanne, Pully, Paudex, Lutry and the lakeside can be closed or restricted while runners pass through.

Public transport & parking

Race-day traffic management is an important consideration. In Lausanne, Avenue de Cour is scheduled for closure during part of the morning and early afternoon, while sections around Ouchy and the lakeside are also affected.

The route extends beyond Lausanne into the neighbouring lakeside communities. In Pully, Paudex and Lutry, several roads are closed from approximately 7:30am until 4:30pm, with runners passing through the Port of Lutry between approximately 9:00am and noon and the Grande Rue in Lutry later in the day.

Drivers should therefore avoid attempting to reach the start or finish directly by car during the busiest periods. Parking around Bellerive-Plage is also affected by the event village and its construction period, so runners should use the recommended public-transport arrangements and allow additional time.

Accommodation areas

Lausanne is the most convenient base for participants because both the starting and finishing areas are within the city.

Lausanne city centre is useful for visitors who want access to the railway station, restaurants, shops and public transport. It also provides a practical base for travelling to Place de Milan on race morning.

Ouchy and the lakeside are particularly convenient for visitors who want to stay close to Bellerive-Plage and the finish area. This area also provides easy access to the Lake Geneva waterfront.

Pully and Lutry offer quieter lakeside accommodation outside central Lausanne. These areas are located directly on or close to the marathon route and can be attractive for visitors extending their stay.

Vevey and the Riviera area provide additional hotel choices for visitors combining the marathon with a wider Lake Geneva trip. The marathon route extends through the Riviera area, although race-day road closures should be considered when planning travel.

Food & drink at the venue

The finish area at Bellerive-Plage provides the main post-race environment, while runners can access refreshments during the race at designated aid stations.

For the 10 km race and Nordic/Walking events, the published 2026 refreshment points include water at the start, water at approximately 5.3 km, and water and banana around 8 km. At the finish, runners can receive water, energy products, hot broth, bananas, apples, gingerbread, chocolate and sugar.

The longer-distance races have additional refreshment arrangements along their routes. The distribution of water and other supplies is designed to support runners throughout the event, although participants should still plan their own hydration and nutrition strategy according to their needs.

Lausanne also provides a large choice of restaurants, cafés, bakeries and lakeside dining outside the race village. Visitors staying in the city can combine the race weekend with the area’s wider food and tourism scene.

Accessibility

The Lausanne Marathon has a history of including wheelchair and handcycle competitions, demonstrating that adaptive athletes have formed part of the event’s competitive programme. Historical results include dedicated wheelchair and handcycle classifications.

The event takes place on public roads and waterfront areas, so accessibility conditions can vary between different sections of the course. Participants with specific mobility requirements should contact the organiser before registering to confirm current arrangements.

The Bellerive-Plage and Auguste Piccard facilities include changing rooms, toilets and showers. The organiser also provides supervised and unsupervised options for runners’ bags at the finish-area facilities.

Best matches/events to attend

Marathon: The 42.195 km marathon is the headline race and provides the complete Lausanne Marathon experience. It starts at 10:05am and runs through the Lausanne and Lake Geneva area before finishing at Bellerive-Plage.

Half Marathon: The 21.097 km race is a major part of the event and begins earlier at 8:40am. It is suitable for runners who want a substantial road-racing challenge without entering the full marathon distance.

10 km Race: The 10 km event begins at 2:00pm and provides an accessible competitive distance for younger participants and runners who prefer a shorter race.

10 km Walking and Nordic Walking: These events provide alternatives to running while retaining the same festival setting and lakeside finish. Both are open from age 10 under the published 2026 categories.

Marathon Expo: The Expo on Friday and Saturday gives participants an opportunity to collect their race materials and visit partner and promotional stands before race day.

Previous year’s highlights

The 2025 Lausanne Marathon took place on 26 October 2025 and featured strong international participation. In the men’s marathon, Switzerland’s Jasper McDowell won in 2:24:10, followed by France’s Guillaume Adam in 2:26:51 and Switzerland’s Dorian Marchal in 2:26:55.

The women’s marathon was won by Kenya’s Mercyline Jeronoh in 2:48:16, with Evgeniia Hermann second in 2:48:41 and Switzerland’s Clara Masserey third in 2:53:17.

The 2025 half marathon was won by Kenya’s Brian Kipchumba in 1:05:31. Switzerland’s Jonathan Hofer and Eritrea’s Habtom Amaniel Soquar both recorded 1:06:02 for second and third respectively. The women’s half marathon was won by Kenya’s Gladys Songol in 1:17:18.

The 10 km race was won by Belgium’s Thibault De Rijdt in 30:22, while Switzerland’s Jennifer Azevedo-Ascensao won the women’s race in 35:11.

The event’s longer history also shows its importance in Swiss road running. The marathon was founded in 1993, when around 700 runners entered the inaugural marathon and more than 1,000 participated in the half and quarter marathon events. The race subsequently grew substantially, with the organisers recording more than 14,000 registrations in several editions and more than 15,600 runners in the record-setting 2016 edition.

The 2022 edition marked a significant organisational change when the event adopted Bellerive-Plage as the start and finish area, while the half marathon start returned to Lausanne after a long period of starting from La Tour-de-Peilz. The organisers recorded approximately 9,100 runners that year.

Official tickets

The Lausanne Marathon is a registration-based running event, so participants must register for one of the available distances rather than purchase a conventional spectator ticket.

The official 2026 registration page lists the marathon, half marathon, 10 km race, 10 km walking and 10 km Nordic Walking categories, with registration closing according to available places.

Official Lausanne Marathon 2026 Registration & Prices (https://en.lausanne-marathon.com/)

Participants can also access the official event website for race information, start times, bib collection, results, course information and event regulations. The organiser’s official contact details are available through the marathon website.