The semi-marathon du bois de Vincennes is back on Sunday, October 18, 2026 and, as every autumn, it slightly disrupts traffic in the Bois de Vincennes, tied to Paris’s 12th arrondissement. The police prefecture issued on October 6, 2026 an order (n°2026-01276) prohibiting traffic on several roads in the forest during the morning. A portion of the measure also affects the neighboring commune of Nogent-sur-Marne, in the Val-de-Marne (94).
The event is no small-town sprint. The 2025 edition drew a little over 6,000 participants, according to the registration platform Miles Republic. The 21.1-kilometer course runs entirely inside the forest, in two laps: first in the northern section, then in the southern. In other words, the avenues typically used by cars are, for one morning, transformed into a full-fledged race track.
The first clause of the decree targets the roads that will be closed the longest. On Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, all vehicle traffic will be prohibited on the following sections:
Other routes, located mainly in the southern part of the wood, will reopen to traffic a little earlier. From 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., traffic is prohibited on:
Note that a section of the avenue Daumesnil and of Avenue de Saint-Maurice is closed, affecting routes commonly used to reach Saint-Mandé, Charenton or Saint-Maurice. It’s wise to plan a detour if you need to pass through the area in the morning.
The decree bans traffic, but it also allows for vehicles that violate the rule to be immobilized and towed, in addition to criminal penalties. If you usually park along these roads, the safest course is to move your car the day before and check the temporary signals posted on-site. Only vehicles serving general priority functions (emergency services, police, fire brigade) are exempt from these restrictions.
On the Nogent-sur-Marne side, the measures fall under a separate municipal decree (no. 2026/603, dated August 14, 2026). To see the list of streets affected on the Val-de-Marne side, we recommend checking the Nogent-sur-Marne town website directly.
For motorists, the easiest option is to skirt the woods via the ring road or outer routes, then wait until noon to move freely again through the avenues. For those coming to cheer on the runners, public transport remains the most stress-free choice: line 1 of the metro serves Château de Vincennes, just steps from the Saint-Louis Esplanade where the race village is set up. Remember to check real-time traffic on the RATP site before you head out.
Sunday morning walkers and cyclists may also run into the peloton. Running along Lac des Minimes amid thousands of bib numbers is a bit like stumbling onto a village fête deep in the woods: best to step aside and watch the spectacle from the roadside. The nearby Château de Vincennes, in fact, offers a nice retreat spot once the race has passed.
To view the complete decree and any updates, visit the Paris Police Prefecture website. For race details (registration, bib pickup, expo village), check with the organizer, Sport Passion, especially on the event page at Miles Republic.
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