Lake Annecy Marathon: dates, start times and an entry fee you won't find
The 45th edition of the Brooks Marathon du lac d'Annecy was held on 18 and 19 April 2026, with more than 15,000 athletes expected. Five formats, from 5 km to the full marathon, but no entry fee published in plain sight by the organiser. The 2027 date has not been published yet.
The Brooks Marathon du lac d'Annecy has nothing to do with the MaXi-Race: it is a road race along the water, held in mid-April, while the MaXi-Race is a mountain trail race at the end of May. The two are often mixed up in searches.
Here are the dates and start times of the 2026 edition, the latest one run, the participant figures available, and one thing the organiser publishes nowhere: the entry fee.
When is the Lake Annecy Marathon?
Dates for the 2026 race, the 45th edition: 18 and 19 April 2026. Entries were open from 21 October 2025 to 12 April 2026.
The sources consulted confirm that the race has been held every year since the 1970s or 1980s, but none publishes the exact dates of the three editions before 2026: only the finisher figures for 2023 and 2024 are available.
The date of the 2027 edition has not been published in the sources consulted. The race is usually held in mid-April, so the accommodation search further down is set for that month.
For runners flying in via Geneva, Annecy lies about 40 km to the south.
What were the start times in 2026, race by race?
- Saturday, 10 km: start at 8am.
- Saturday, half marathon: start at 9am.
- Sunday, marathon (42.195 km): start at 8am, in waves every five minutes, with a para-athletics start at 7.45am.
- Sunday, 5 km: start at 8:50am.
- Sunday, Nordic walking: start at 9.30am according to the City of Annecy, 8.45am according to other race calendars, from the quai de la Tournette according to the City.
In 2026, race bibs were collected at the Pâquier over three days: Friday from 9am to 9pm, Saturday from 6am to 9pm, and Sunday morning from 6am to 7am for late marathon runners.
How many people take part in the Lake Annecy Marathon?
The number of finishers across all races is rising fast: 9,291 finishers in 2023, 11,222 finishers in 2024. The sports press announced more than 15,000 athletes expected for 2026; no source consulted has yet published the number of finishers for that edition.
No source breaks the figures down by distance (how many marathon runners against how many 10 km runners), or gives the number of spectators or exhibitors at the Pâquier race village.
On marathon weekend, Annecy fills up early: bib collection starts at 6am and traffic is diverted around the Pâquier. Booking somewhere close to the centre saves driving in the early morning. The search for accommodation in Annecy in mid-April 2027 compares distances to the start, pending the official date of the next edition.
Compare accommodation for marathon weekend →Partner link: booking through this link supports the site at no extra cost to you.How much does it cost to enter the marathon?
None of the sources consulted, including the organiser's official website, publishes a price list by distance. Neither the base fee, nor the extras (timing, medal, T-shirt), nor late entry fees are set out on the pages available.
That gap is surprising for an event claiming more than 15,000 participants: there is no way of fairly comparing the cost of entering here with another French marathon without going through the entry form itself.
How does this marathon differ from the MaXi-Race?
The Lake Annecy Marathon is a road race along the water in mid-April. The MaXi-Race is a mountain trail race on the ridges above the lake at the end of May, over 100 to 108 km with more than 5,700 m of climbing. The Lake Annecy loop covers the three ways of going round the lake, the MaXi-Race among them.
The marathon also stands out for its para-athletics races, built into the 10 km, half marathon and marathon starts, and for a field far larger than a mountain trail race.
What isn't published about the organisation?
There is no data on the economic impact for Annecy, nor on how full accommodation or transport gets on race weekend. Road closures along the course are not set out on the general-public pages consulted, even though a municipal order probably exists.
Without official figures, it is reasonable to expect big crowds at the Pâquier on the Saturday from 8am to 10am, then on the Sunday from 7.45am to 9.30am, but no source quantifies it.
To stay close to the start or finish, Lake Annecy hotels and where to stay in Annecy compare the areas nearest the Pâquier.
Outside race weekend, the lake moves at a different pace: cruises, paddleboarding and cycling are open to all, no bib needed. The Annecy activities page groups the options with duration and price.
See activities on Lake Annecy →Partner link: booking through this link supports the site at no extra cost to you.Sources
AHSA / Events AHSA (organiser, 2026), City of Annecy (Annecy international marathon 2026), marathons.fr, marathons.com (article on the 45th edition, 17 April 2026), Jogging-Plus (finishers 2023-2024, January 2025).
werun.world, finishers.com, momentum-coach.fr, ski-nordique.net (MaXi-Race, for comparison), Tourisme Haute-Savoie (distance from Geneva, 2026). Research compiled on 12 September 2026. None of the sources consulted publishes an entry fee or quantified economic impact for this event.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Lake Annecy Marathon in 2026?
How much does it cost to enter the Lake Annecy Marathon?
How many people take part in the Lake Annecy Marathon?
Is the Lake Annecy Marathon the same race as the MaXi-Race?
Camille Perrissin
Camille grew up in Sévrier, on the west shore, and swims in the lake from April to November. She has been taking the water temperature herself since 2019 and knows where the bottom suddenly drops away. She writes about the lake without ever turning it into a postcard.
