Course de l'Escalade, Genève 2026

The Course de l'Escalade is a race weekend in Geneva, linked to the city's Escalade festival. This December event commemorates Geneva's successful defense against a seventeenth-century night attack by Savoyard forces. The schedule offers a variety of events: Saturday features adult races for all skill levels, while Sunday includes youth, Parent-Child, relay, FlexiMix, and elite races. A 9 km walk is also available. The primary running distances are brief and intense, not marathon-style, with options around 4.8 km and 7.3 km, alongside shorter races for children and school-aged participants. The courses wind through Geneva's city streets, incorporating enough elevation changes to challenge runners over the short distances. The 4.82 km race involves over 100 m of ascent, and the elite race covers 7.3 km. The walking route begins in Veyrier and concludes at Promenade des Bastions, primarily on level asphalt. The most unique event is la Marmite, a 4 km nighttime race run in costume. This race references the Escalade legend of Catherine Cheynel, who is said to have thrown boiling soup onto the attackers. This tale also accounts for the festival's chocolate cauldrons and imbues the race weekend with a distinct local character, setting it apart from typical road races.