The 2026 Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon reached its conclusion on Sunday, November 15, 2026. For the 29th edition, more than 13,000 runners set off in Boulogne-Billancourt, in the Hauts-de-Seine (92), 1,000 more than in 2025.
In the elite race, Kenyan Kiprop Kimutai wins the men’s event in 1:00:50, while Ophélie Serra Boxberger snatches victory in the women’s race in the final kilometers. And in the field, 43% of participants come away with a new personal best.
In the men’s race, there was little suspense over who would take first place. Kiprop Kimutai raced alone to the finish line, clocking 1:00:50, just 39 seconds off the course record. Behind him, the battle for second place came down to a sprint: Mehdi Frère edged out Lounes Benamara by a single second.
In the women’s race, the story unfolds like a film whose ending is revealed only in the final scene. Kenya’s Sharon Jepchirchir Rutto leads throughout, before Ophélie Serra Boxberger catches her in the closing stages and wins by five seconds. Anaïs Quemener, a two-time French marathon champion, finishes fourth in 1:13:13.
The full results of the Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon, including the finishing position of every finisher, are available on the Trackanza timing platform.
The 21.1 km course, along the banks of the Seine and through the Bois de Boulogne, has just 70 meters of elevation gain. The organizers bill it as France’s fastest half marathon, and this year, the times once again seem to prove them right.
Another major new development: this year, the race has earned the Gold Road label from the French Athletics Federation, which partly explains the strength of the elite field. International runners Mehdi Frère and Antonin Saint Peyre were among those entered.
The race starts at 10 a.m. on Avenue Victor-Hugo, with the city’s mayor sending runners off in waves. In total, 11,520 runners finish, including 30% women, representing 92 different nationalities.
Nearly 2,000 participants are running their very first race here, while almost 1,500 residents of Boulogne are racing on home turf. The enthusiasm was already clear during registration: the race sold out in just three days, with an official bib resale system between runners through Finishers. Another plus for mobility: 64% of runners arrived by public transport.
Even before the mass start, the para race gets underway at 9:55 a.m. With the Binômes association, which pairs athletes with disabilities with volunteer guides, Estelle, a visually impaired runner, sets a personal best in her third half marathon, guided by Cécile and Sandrine.
Further along, Béatrice crosses the finish line surrounded by all the pacers, who have come to escort her over the final meters. The Pace Her initiative, meanwhile, brings together four female pairs—a pacer and a runner being paced—setting off together toward their goal.
At kilometer 18, a speed camera flashes the runners and displays their speed in km/h, giving them a boost before the finish. At the finish line, every personal best is celebrated by ringing the finisher’s bell, and a giant screen set up on Place Marcel-Sembat lets friends and family follow the race live.
The 2026 edition is also opting for a more sustainable approach. No plastic bottles at the refreshment stations, thanks to water dispensers connected to the city’s drinking water supply and reusable cups. All the toilets are dry toilets, and the finisher’s medal is made of wood.
At the start corrals, discarded clothing is collected with the Recyclerie Sportive to give it a second life. Finally, €1,991 was raised for the Les Enfants de l'Himalaya association. The event's success was made possible by 350 volunteers and the City of Boulogne-Billancourt, which co-organized it with ACBB. All the information about the race can be found on the official Boulogne-Billancourt Half Marathon website and in our article about the course.
Still have plenty of energy in your legs? Hauts-de-Seine has more running events in store before the end of the year. Red hats and white beards are out in force for the 2026 Christmas Race in Issy-les-Moulineaux, a festive run in the middle of December. For those who prefer more natural terrain, the 2026 Figaro Cross-Country at the Domaine de Saint-Cloud offers several race formats in aid of Téléthon.
And to get ready for next season, we recommend keeping our guide to running events in Paris and Île-de-France close at hand, along with our selection of must-not-miss marathons and half-marathons.
Dates and Opening Time
On November 15, 2026
Location
Victor Hugo Avenue, Boulogne
Avenue Victor Hugo
92100 Boulogne Billancourt
Route planner
Official website
www.semi-marathonbb.fr
