The 37th Marrakech International Marathon will be held on Sunday 31 January 2027, according to the organiser’s official website. A corporate team can enter the full marathon (42.195 km, starting at 7.45am), the half marathon (21.097 km, starting mid-morning, time still to be confirmed) or the 5 km fun run on Saturday morning, 30 January. The safest format is three days and two nights: arrive on Friday to collect race numbers, run the 5 km or rest on Saturday, race on Sunday morning and fly home on Sunday evening, with an optional third night for a celebration dinner. Excluding flights and race entry, the stay comes to roughly €5,200 to €11,300 for 20 people in a four-star hotel over two nights, based on our budget calculator’s model.
When is the Marrakech Marathon in 2027?
The official website lists the 37th edition for Sunday 31 January 2027. The published race rules state that the event takes place every year on the last Sunday of January; the 2026 edition was held on Sunday 25 January 2026. Some online race calendars still show a different, “unconfirmed” date, so rely on the organiser’s own site.
The weekend revolves around five fixed points.
| Event | Announced date and time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Race number collection | From 23 or 24 January depending on the page, then at the race village on Thursday 28 (4pm-8pm) and Friday 29 (10am-8pm) | Marrakech railway station, Jemaa el-Fna square and Dar Talib, then the marathon village |
| Marathon village | From Thursday 28 January, 4pm, to Saturday 30 January | Koutoubia square, Jemaa el-Fna |
| 5 km fun run | Saturday 30 January, 9am or 9.30am depending on the page | Registration on site, Jemaa el-Fna |
| Marathon, 42.195 km | Sunday 31 January, 7.45am | Start and finish on Avenue Prince Moulay Rachid (2026 rules) |
| Half marathon, 21.097 km | Sunday 31 January, 9.15am in the detailed programme (8.30am on the home page) | Same start area |
The official site is not consistent from one page to the next: 8.30am or 9.15am for the half marathon, 9am or 9.30am for the 5 km, number collection at the station from 23 or 24 January, and the village on Koutoubia square or, on the home page, Place du 16 Novembre. Wait for the organiser to confirm before you set breakfast and transport times; arriving on Friday gives you a full day at the village. All times are local: Morocco has stayed on GMT all year round since 20 September 2026, so in January Marrakech is on the same time as London and one hour behind Paris.
Which distance suits a corporate team?
Choose for your least-trained runners, not your fastest. Few office teams include twenty marathon runners, and the point is for everyone to cross a finish line.
The full marathon
This is for people who already run seriously. The published rules set a 5 hour 30 minute cut-off and a minimum age of 17. Allow several months of training: if the idea comes up in the autumn, that is usually too short for a first marathon.
The half marathon
This is the distance that brings a team together most easily. The announced cut-off is 3 hours and the minimum age 16. The course is described as “flat and fast, despite a few gentle climbs in the palm grove”, with drinks stations every 5 km. A colleague who already runs regularly can prepare for it in a few months.
The 5 km fun run
It takes place the day before, on Saturday morning (9am or 9.30am depending on the page of the official site), with registration on site in Jemaa el-Fna. It is the way to include colleagues who do not run, those who would rather walk, or a leadership team that wants to take part without a training plan. It also leaves Sunday’s runners with a quiet morning.
A mix works well: a few marathon runners, a core group on the half, and everyone else on the 5 km. Each person has their own race, and the whole team meets at Sunday’s finish.
How do you register a team?
Registration is done on the organiser’s official platform, with secure online payment. As of 14 October 2026, we found neither a “corporate” or “group” package nor a published 2027 entry fee on the organiser’s website. If you are entering more than ten people, ask the organiser directly, in writing, before you announce the project internally.
Three things to check when you register:
- the closing date: the organiser does not show one as of 14 October 2026; its programme allows on-site registration up to the race village, but do not rely on that for a group;
- what you need to collect a race number: a half marathon page published by a race partner says numbers are handed over on presentation of a passport;
- any medical paperwork: we did not find this set out on the site as of 14 October 2026, so read the 2027 rules as soon as they are published.
In practice, appoint one person to collect registrations, names exactly as they appear on passports, and team T-shirt sizes. That person collects the race numbers, or arranges for them to be collected, within whatever the organiser allows.
What does a three-day programme look like?
Here is a sample two-night plan, Friday to Sunday, to adjust once the half marathon start time is final and your flights are known.
Friday 29 January: arrival and race numbers
The flight from Paris takes about 3 h 15 to 3 h 30. Transfer from the airport to the hotel, then a visit to the race village for numbers: the official programme lists it as open from 10am to 8pm that day. In the evening, a simple dinner gets the team together and is a good moment to hand out company running kit.
Saturday 30 January: 5 km and rest
In the morning (9am or 9.30am, to be confirmed), non-runners and anyone wanting a shake-out run line up for the fun run opposite the Koutoubia. Sunday’s runners keep the day light: a short walk in the medina, an easy lunch, rest in the afternoon. Serve the team dinner early, as runners will be up before 6am.
Sunday 31 January: race day and home
In late January the sun rises at around 7.25am in Marrakech, so the marathon starts at first light. Mornings are cool, with an average January low of about 6°C, and afternoons reach around 19°C on average. Plan a throwaway layer for the start and dry clothes at the finish. Non-runners position themselves along the course or at the finish; one organiser keeps the list of runners and the team meeting point. Ask the hotel for a late check-out so people can shower after the race, then a team lunch and a transfer to an evening flight. The rules set a 5 hour 30 minute cut-off and the official programme lists the marathon as closing at 1pm, so do not book flights too early.
The third-night option
Staying until Monday changes the feel of the trip: Sunday evening becomes the team celebration, with in-house medals and no rush to the airport. A private room at the hotel is the easiest choice, since nobody wants another coach ride after a half or full marathon.
What does the stay cost, excluding race entry?
The figures below come from our online calculator’s model: single rooms, return airport transfers and local transport (two days for two nights, three for three nights). They include a 10% contingency and exclude flights, race entry, alcoholic drinks, tourist tax and organisation fees. They are market ranges rounded to the nearest hundred, not contractual prices.
| Option for 20 people | Estimated total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| Two nights in a three-star hotel, two dinners | €3,400 to €5,900 | €170 to €290 |
| Two nights in a four-star hotel, two dinners | €5,200 to €8,800 | €260 to €440 |
| Two nights, four-star, one dinner and a private team dinner at the hotel | €6,400 to €11,300 | €320 to €560 |
| Three nights, four-star, two dinners and a private evening at the hotel | €8,900 to €15,500 | €450 to €780 |
Rooms are the largest item: in a four-star hotel, they account for €3,200 to €5,200 over two nights for 20 people, and €4,800 to €7,800 over three. For 40 people over two nights, with a private dinner at the hotel and a DJ, the model gives €12,800 to €22,200, which is still €320 to €560 per person.
For non-runners, an activity can fill Sunday morning. A Moroccan cooking class for ten people comes to around €500 to €800 on the same model. Our comparison of team building activities in Marrakech gives the duration and group size for each option.
Which mistakes should you avoid?
Booking too late. Marathon weekend brings thousands of runners, many of them from abroad. Block rooms as soon as the date is agreed, ideally the autumn before, and negotiate partial cancellation terms in case some entrants drop out.
Staying far from the start. On race morning every minute of travel counts, and traffic may be disrupted around the course. Ask the organiser about road closures and choose accommodation within walking distance of the start or a short shuttle away.
Forgetting the non-runners. If half the team waits three hours on a pavement, the memory will be mixed. Give them a role (organised supporters, Saturday’s 5 km) or a parallel activity.
Making the race compulsory. Running 21 km is a personal choice. Invite people to take part, never require it, and always keep a place for those who do not run. Our article on safety, insurance and work accidents during team building abroad also explains why an injury at a company event needs to be taken seriously.
Ignoring what comes next in the calendar. Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 or 9 February 2027, give or take a day. It does not affect marathon weekend, but if you extend the trip into a seminar, see our month-by-month 2027 calendar for corporate retreats in Marrakech. If you add a working day, our guide to indoor and winter team building in Marrakech suggests activities under cover.
What Saphyyr Events does
Saphyyr Events has offices in Paris and Marrakech. You plan the project with us in French or English, with a single point of contact who coordinates accommodation, transfers, local transport, catering and the team evening. A team is on site throughout the event and handles anything unexpected. Race entries are made on the organiser’s official platform, and flights are booked by you or your travel agent. We provide a free, detailed quote based on your numbers and dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the date of the 2027 Marrakech Marathon?
Sunday 31 January 2027, for the 37th edition, according to the official website. The marathon starts at 7.45am, the half marathon at around 9.15am (to be confirmed; the site’s home page says 8.30am), and the 5 km fun run takes place the day before, on Saturday morning, 30 January.
Is there a corporate or group entry?
We did not find one on the organiser’s website as of 14 October 2026. Registration is online on the official platform. For a large group, contact the organiser in writing.
How many nights should we plan?
Two nights, Friday to Sunday, arriving on Friday, when the race village is open all day for number collection. A third night, Sunday to Monday, lets you hold the team celebration after the race.
What is the weather like in Marrakech at the end of January?
January averages are around 19°C in the afternoon and 6°C at dawn. The race starts in cool air, which suits running, but people need warm clothes while they wait.
What can we offer colleagues who do not run?
Saturday’s 5 km fun run, an organised supporters’ role on Sunday, or a parallel activity on Sunday morning such as a cooking class or a walk through the medina.
To go further, see our team building in Marrakech page, estimate your trip with the seminar and team building budget calculator, check official race information on the Marrakech International Marathon website, or request a free quote with your numbers and dates.