Eiffel Tower hosts Paris 20K on 11 October 2026

The Eiffel Tower, la tour Eiffel, framed the 20 km de Paris on 11 October 2026, when the 48th edition began at Pont d'Iéna and finished on the Champ-de-Mars in Paris. The race turned the monument's surroundings into both a start area and a finishing landmark for runners and spectators.

The event also brought practical changes around the tower, including road closures and altered public transport services across western Paris.

Paris 20K reached the Eiffel Tower on 11 October 2026

The 20 km de Paris began at Pont d'Iéna, between the Trocadéro and the monument, before sending runners through western Paris. The route passed the Arc de Triomphe, the Bois de Boulogne, Roland-Garros and the Maison de la Radio.

It then followed the Seine towards central Paris before reaching the Champ-de-Mars. The race schedule and route set the first arrivals at the Champ-de-Mars from 9.30am, after para-athletes started at 8.45am and the elite field at 9am.

The race was scheduled across the weekend from 9 to 11 October 2026. Its village operated at the Émile-Anthoine Stadium, near the Champ-de-Mars, while children’s races took place on Saturday.

The 20 km route connected the tower with its history

The route placed the Eiffel Tower at both the opening and closing ends of the event. That arrangement echoed the monument’s role as a Paris landmark, while the race itself used streets, riverfronts and public squares as its course.

The tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which ran in Paris from 15 May to 6 November that year. The first excavation work began on 26 January 1887, according to the monument’s official construction history.

For visitors, the race offered a different view of the site: the monument was not simply a backdrop from a distant viewpoint. Pont d’Iéna formed the starting setting, while the Champ-de-Mars provided the finishing setting and the main nearby gathering point.

Access around the Eiffel Tower changed for the race

• The 20 km de Paris took place on Sunday, 11 October 2026, with the start at Pont d’Iéna and the finish at the Champ-de-Mars beside the Eiffel Tower.
• Road restrictions affected the start and finish zones, including the area around Avenue Joseph-Bouvard and the Champ-de-Mars. Travellers should not expect normal vehicle access during the race period.
• For the start, Line 9 stations at Trocadéro and Iéna were listed as alternatives. École Militaire on Line 8 and Franklin D. Roosevelt on Lines 1 and 9 served the finish area.
• Line 6 was closed throughout 11 October 2026, while Lines 11 and 13 were disrupted until midday. RER C services were also interrupted between Invalides and Gare d’Austerlitz during the weekend.
• The route crossed the 7th, 8th, 15th and 16th arrondissements, so access conditions around the tower differed from those on an ordinary Sunday.

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Frequently asked questions about Eiffel Tower

When did the Paris 20K take place at the Eiffel Tower?

The 20 km de Paris took place on 11 October 2026, starting at Pont d’Iéna and finishing on the Champ-de-Mars.

Where is the Eiffel Tower and how do you get there?

The tower is in Paris’s 7th arrondissement. For the race start, Line 9 stations at Trocadéro and Iéna were listed, while the finish area was served by Line 8 at École Militaire.

What is the Eiffel Tower?

The Eiffel Tower is a Paris monument built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle. Its first excavation work began on 26 January 1887.