Choosing between Paris Marathon and Soweto Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Paris Marathon | Soweto Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 4 April 2027 at 8:30 am | Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 6:00 am |
| Elevation | Mostly flat with gentle undulations - approx. 42m above sea level. ↑ 164 m · ↓ 157 m · net +7 m | Rolling with gentle hills - approx. 1,767m above sea level. ↑ 150 m · ↓ 140 m · net +10 m |
| Typical weather | Cool to mild and humid spring | Mild spring |
| Typical participants | Approximately 54k finishers | Approximately 35k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
The Paris Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 54k finishers on an urban road in Paris, France. The course starts on the Champs-Élysées near the Arc de Triomphe and finishes on Avenue Foch. The route passes Place de la Bastille, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Bois de Vincennes. Mostly flat with gentle undulations; no major hills or cobblestone sections.
The Soweto Marathon is one of Africa's largest marathons, drawing about 35,000 finishers each November through Johannesburg's historic Soweto township. The course passes the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street (home of Mandela and Tutu), and FNB Stadium. November summer weather and powerful historical symbolism make it South Africa's most significant mass-participation marathon.
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