The Paris 20km 2026 race takes place this Sunday, October 11, 2026, with a start at the Pont d'Iéna and a finish at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. As every autumn, the event brings road closures and parking bans, mainly in the 7th, 8th and 16th arrondissements as well as central Paris.
If you’re behind the wheel this weekend, planning ahead is a must. Here’s what you need to know about the route, the affected sectors, and smart, stress-free ways to get around.
Renamed Harmonie Mutuelle 20km de Paris, the iconic Parisian race marks its 48th edition. According to France 3 Paris Île-de-France, some 35,000 participants are expected for an edition billed as a return to vigor—“a new breath of life.”
The wheelchair race kicks off at 8:45 a.m., followed by the main field at 9:00 a.m. The route offers a postcard view of western Paris: Trocadéro, the Arc de Triomphe, the Bois de Boulogne, Roland-Garros, the Maison de la Radio, then Pont Royal, before heading back along the Seine's quays. To get the full picture of the event itself, our piece on the 20km de Paris 2026 has all the details.
As we write these lines, the 2026 decree from the Préfecture de police has not yet been published online. The route, following the same broad landmarks as last year, the 2025 arrangement gives a good sense of what motorists can expect. Here it is, for guidance while awaiting the official decree.
From the Friday before the race, avenue Joseph Bouvard (7th), at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, was closed to traffic in the early afternoon, then off-limits for parking in the evening, until 6 p.m. on Sunday. This is where the finish area will be laid out.
On race day, between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., several roads in the 7th and 16th arrondissements were closed to traffic:
From 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Quai d'Orsay and the Avenue Rapp (7th arrondissement) were also closed. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., several exits of the boulevard périphérique were blocked in the 16th arrondissement:
The Georges Pompidou Road and the Avenue de New‑York in the 16th arrondissement were closed from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., the banked and underground lanes in central Paris, in the 8th and 16th districts, were also affected:
Finally, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the streets forming the race route were closed to traffic:
The simplest option is to leave the car in the garage. The western edge of Paris turns for a morning into a vast athletics track, and the Seine crossings between Alma and Pont Royal become a real headache. Moreover, a vehicle parked in a no-parking zone risks being towed to the pound.
Subway, RER and bus remain the best option, provided you check the network status before you head out. Our weekly briefing on the metro, RER and Transilien disruptions from October 5 to 11, 2026 helps you plan your route. Also keep in mind the usual Sunday closures tied to Paris Respire, which add to those caused by the race.
No bib this year? The Seine quays and the Bois de Boulogne offer prime spots to cheer on the runners. For those who’d rather watch from the couch, ICI Paris Île-de-France and france.tv will broadcast the race from 8:35 a.m.
And to extend this Sunday, our pick of things to do in Paris on Sunday, October 11, 2026 is brimming with ideas.
Dates and Opening Time
On October 11, 2026
Official website
www.prefecturedepolice.interieur.gouv.fr
