Québec City is getting ready for one of its biggest running weekends of the year.
The 27th Beneva Québec City Marathon presented by Brunet takes place October 2–4, with more than 20,000 runners and walkers expected to participate across five distances. Organizers say that is a new participation record for the event.
For visitors, the marathon is also a particularly interesting way to experience Québec City in the fall. The courses wind through some of the city’s best-known neighbourhoods and historic areas, turning race weekend into something of a moving tour of the city.
What’s happening Saturday
Saturday, October 3, is devoted to the shorter races.
The 5K Beneva Health Run begins at 10 a.m., followed by the Sports Experts 10K at 11 a.m. The 2K Kids’ Run starts at 1:30 p.m.
All of the weekend’s races finish around Place Jean-Béliveau.
The marathon takes over Sunday
Sunday, October 4, is the main event.
The 42.2K marathon starts at 8 a.m., while the 21.1K half-marathon begins at 9:35 a.m.
This year’s marathon carries some additional importance for competitive runners: Québec City is hosting the Québec 42.2K road championships in both 2026 and 2027.
Among the runners to watch this weekend are 2025 winner Alexis Lepage, along with Jonathan Tedeschi, Maxime Leboeuf and Caroline Pomerleau.
The course is certified by Athletics Canada, meaning qualifying performances can be used toward events including the Boston Marathon.
A destination race
The numbers also show how much the event has grown beyond Québec.
According to organizers, registrations increased 21% compared with 2025, and nearly 30% of this year’s participants are coming from outside the province.
That makes marathon weekend as much a tourism event as a sporting one. Thousands of runners arrive with family and friends for an October weekend that extends beyond the race itself.
You don’t have to run
Visitors can still get involved without putting on running shoes.
The free Je Cours Qc Expo is being held at the Centre de foires de Québec from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It serves as the race-bib pickup location but also includes exhibitors, talks and services for runners.
Place Jean-Béliveau will become the centre of activity during the races, with an Exhibitors’ Village, Family Plaza and entertainment.
Spectators can also find a spot along the course and cheer. If you are building a longer visit around the races, our guide to six Québec City must-sees for a first visit provides a starting point for exploring between events.
Expect traffic changes
If you’re visiting Québec City this weekend and aren’t participating in the marathon, this is the part worth planning for.
Road closures, parking restrictions and changes to public transit will affect parts of the city Saturday and Sunday. Allow extra travel time, particularly Sunday morning, and check the organizer’s race-day travel and access information before heading across the city.
The upside is that marathon weekend offers a different view of Québec City: streets filled with runners and spectators, neighbourhoods turned into cheering sections, and thousands of people seeing the city in October.
Beneva Québec City Marathon presented by Brunet
When: October 2–4, 2026
Main races: Saturday and Sunday
Marathon: Sunday at 8 a.m.
Half-marathon: Sunday at 9:35 a.m.
Finish area: Place Jean-Béliveau
All start times are local to Québec City. Check the official weekend schedule for updates; the program is subject to change.
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