Marathon International du Beaujolais is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Beaujolais calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Parc Expo in 69400 Villefranche-sur-Saône, in the heart of one of France's most distinctive wine areas. The 2026 event marks the 22th edition of the festival, reflecting its consistent place in the regional calendar.
Festive marathon through the Beaujolais Crus between Fleurie and Villefranche-sur-Saône. 25,000+ runners from 70+ countries, 15 aid stations including 9 wine and food tastings, pass through 12+ wine villages and historic châteaux (Corcelles, Pizay, Longsard). Marathon, half-marathon, Bacchus Trail and family walks. Costumes strongly encouraged. €3 per bib donated to cancer research via the Beaujolais Marathon Foundation. Wine-themed running events have grown into a distinctive part of the French wine tourism calendar, combining a sporting challenge with tasting stops at chateaux and cellars along the route. Distances usually range from short walking routes for non-runners through to half marathons and marathon trails for serious athletes. Costumes are often encouraged, food and wine stations punctuate the course, and many events raise funds for local charities or wine-related cultural causes. The event is organised by Association Marathon International du Beaujolais, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
Beaujolais sits between Burgundy and Lyon, producing Gamay-based reds across ten Crus — Brouilly, Cote de Brouilly, Chenas, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Julienas, Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Regnie and Saint-Amour — plus Beaujolais-Villages and the regional Beaujolais appellation. Beaujolais Nouveau is released worldwide on the third Thursday of November, but the region has built a strong critical reputation over the last two decades for serious, terroir-driven Cru wines that age well. Granite soils dominate the northern crus, while the southern part of the appellation moves toward limestone and clay. Beaujolais Days has become an important regional umbrella programme each November.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for 20-22 November 2026. Festival access is ticketed: Paid (race registration ~€50-85). Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at https://www.marathondubeaujolais.org/. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as French festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
Beaujolais is best reached from Lyon, with Villefranche-sur-Saone as the gateway to the cru villages further north. A festival visit pairs naturally with a circuit of the ten cru villages, the Hameau Duboeuf wine theme park in Romaneche-Thorins, and a meal at one of the Lyonnais bouchons. Beaujolais Nouveau season in November is the highest-profile period, but May to October offer better vineyard walking conditions and the chance to meet producers in the cru villages without the crowd.
