Pont Alexandre III hosts the Race of Lights on 21 November

Pont Alexandre III and the Race of Lights will meet in Paris on 21 November 2026, when the public running and walking event begins near the bridge. The route places the historic crossing between the start area at Port des Champs-Elysees and the Seine-side finish at Port de la Bourdonnais.

The bridge connects the Invalides area with the Champs-Elysees and stands in both the seventh and eighth arrondissements. Its role in the event gives travellers a specific reason to include the crossing in a Paris visit during November 2026.

Race of Lights starts beside Pont Alexandre III

The City of Paris lists the Race of Lights as a sporting event on 21 November 2026, with Pont Alexandre III named among the sites used by the course. The city record identifies the bridge on both the seventh and eighth arrondissement sides.

The official programme describes a race, a walk and several formats for participants. The 5km and 10km routes start from Port des Champs-Elysees, while the finish is at Port de la Bourdonnais. The organiser also lists an extended 10km timed format for 2026.

According to the organiser, the Paris programme begins on 21 November 2026, with starts scheduled between 3.30pm and 8.30pm. The detailed start time depends on the chosen format, while the route passes the bridge and other Seine landmarks. The City of Paris event listing gives the date, venue and programme details.

A 1900 bridge shapes the Paris route

Pont Alexandre III was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900 and links the Invalides with the Champs-Elysees. The Archives nationales identify engineers Jean Résal and Amédée Alby, while architects Joseph Cassien-Bernard and Gaston Cousin designed its elaborate decorative scheme.

The bridge uses a single-span structure across the Seine, allowing views along the river and towards the surrounding monuments. Its decoration includes lamps, nymphs, lions, dolphins, monumental vases and gilded statues, according to the Archives nationales history.

That design affects the character of the event route. Participants approach a bridge created as part of a world exhibition, then continue along the riverbanks towards the Eiffel Tower area. Visitors who come only to see the monument can therefore encounter the crossing as part of an organised course rather than as an isolated viewpoint.

Visiting Pont Alexandre III: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Race of Lights takes place on 21 November 2026, with the Paris start at Port des Champs-Elysees beside the bridge.
• The event includes a 5km course, a 10km course and a public walk, and participation is listed as being by reservation.
• Pont Alexandre III crosses the Seine between the Invalides and Champs-Elysees areas, with access from both sides of the river.
• The bridge forms part of the route, so visitors seeking an uninterrupted crossing should expect organised sporting activity there on 21 November 2026.

The organiser’s Paris programme for 21 November 2026 sets out the formats, start area and finish area.

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Frequently asked questions about Pont Alexandre III

When does the Race of Lights take place at Pont Alexandre III?

The event takes place on 21 November 2026, with the Paris start at Port des Champs-Elysees beside the bridge.

What is Pont Alexandre III?

It is a decorative single-span bridge across the Seine, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900 between the Invalides and Champs-Elysees areas.

Where is Pont Alexandre III and how do you get there?

The bridge links the seventh and eighth arrondissements of Paris. The Race of Lights start area is at Port des Champs-Elysees, next to the bridge.