Casablanca will host the 17th edition of the Crédit du Maroc Casablanca Marathon on Sunday, October 25, with 15,000 participants expected from 60 countries as the event enters a new phase of development.
The race will feature a World Athletics Elite Label, a newly redesigned course and several new initiatives, reinforcing the Casablanca event’s ambitions in Morocco and on the international running calendar.
The marathon and half-marathon will now form part of the official 2026 World Athletics Label Road Races calendar. The marathon course will also receive World Athletics certification, while the event has been awarded the international body’s Elite Label, which carries requirements covering organization, safety, sporting regulations and anti-doping measures.
15,000 participants expected
Organizers are expecting 15,000 participants this year, representing an announced 120% increase compared with the previous edition. A total of 60 countries are expected to be represented, while 1,000 volunteers will be mobilized to support the event.
Three race formats will be offered. The marathon will retain its traditional distance of 42.195 kilometers, while the half-marathon will cover 21.097 kilometers. The relay, made up of four 10.5-kilometer legs, will allow participants to take part as a team.
The marathon will start at 07:00, followed 15 minutes later by the relay. The half-marathon will get underway at 08:15. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 11:00, with the event closing at 14:00.
Casablanca at the heart of the new course
Another major change for the 17th edition is the redesigned course, which is intended to take participants through Casablanca and past several of the city’s landmarks. Major roads, neighborhoods and urban landscapes will therefore form an integral part of the race.
Under the “Vibe Casa” concept, organizers also want the city’s identity and energy to remain at the heart of the event. The approach will shape activities before and during the Crédit du Maroc Casablanca Marathon, from the Marathon Village through race day.
Stronger elite field
The event’s sporting ambitions will also be reflected in its elite field, which will bring together leading Moroccan athletes and several international runners, with a stronger presence of Morocco’s top athletes in both the men’s and women’s races. Prize money for athletes has also been increased.
In the men’s race, El Hassan El Abbassi will line up with a personal best of 2:04:43. He will be joined by Ethiopians Abayneh Degu Tsehay, who has a best of 2:04:53, and Workineh Tadese Mandefro, whose personal best stands at 2:05:07. Morocco’s Hamza Sahli, with a time of 2:07:15, is also among the announced entrants.
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Bere Ayalew has a personal best of 2:22:52, ahead of compatriot Sofia Assefa at 2:23:33. The Moroccan contingent includes Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi, Soukaina Atanane, Kaltoum Bouaasariya, Souad Kanbouchia and Kawtar Kahhaz.
“Challenge 421” to make its Moroccan debut
One of the main new features of the 2026 edition will take place over the final 421 meters of the race.
The Crédit du Maroc Casablanca Marathon will host the “Challenge 421,” an initiative presented as a first in Morocco and supported by civil society and associations working to promote the rights of people with disabilities.
The initiative will reserve the final 421 meters of the course, equivalent to one hundredth of the marathon’s 42.195 kilometers, for walkers with disabilities. They will cross the same finish line as the other participants, on the same day and along the same course.
Runners to be tracked live
Technology will also feature more prominently in the 17th edition, with organizers making a mobile application available to participants and introducing a live tracking system.
The system will allow runners to be followed in real time, with their positions displayed on a map and their progress monitored throughout the course. The tool will be available to participants, their relatives and members of the public.
Major medical response system
With several thousand runners taking to the roads across the city, organizers are also preparing a substantial medical response system. A total of 16 doctors, 24 nurses and 12 equipped ambulances will be mobilized.
Automated defibrillators, medical and resuscitation stations, as well as a command center coordinating emergency response operation, will complete the system.
The stated objective is to ensure that any participant in difficulty can receive initial medical assistance within less than four minutes, regardless of their position on the course.
Before race day, the Marathon Village will open from October 21 to 24 at Espace Sacré-Cœur, where runners will be able to collect their race numbers.
The venue will also feature exhibition areas, sporting and recreational activities for adults and children, as well as initiatives promoting environmental responsibility and healthy running practices.
Organized for the second consecutive year under the auspices of the Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca (ACGC), the Crédit du Maroc Casablanca Marathon is seeking to combine its popular appeal with greater sporting ambition. With 15,000 participants expected, its inclusion in the World Athletics calendar, Elite Label status and a strong field, the 17th edition is set to give a new dimension to Casablanca’s major running event.
