Hassan II Mosque hosts Casablanca Marathon on 25 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 08:01 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Hassan II Mosque will host the start and finish of the Casablanca Marathon on 25 October 2026, beside the Atlantic in Casablanca. The landmark, locally called Mosquée Hassan II, will form the race setting for a 42 km marathon, a 21 km half-marathon and a 4×10.5 km relay.
Casablanca Marathon starts beside Hassan II Mosque
The 17th Casablanca Marathon is scheduled for Sunday 25 October 2026. The organiser says the start and finish area will be next to Hassan II Mosque on Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, opposite Rue Regraga.
The event presentation lists an 8am start for the marathon, 8.45am for the half-marathon and 8.05am for the relay. The organiser’s race rules also describe staggered starts by starting group, with the full marathon limited to six hours and the half-marathon to three hours. The official event programme places the three formats around the mosque and across Casablanca’s landmark avenues.
Race-week activity is planned at Espace Sacré-Cœur on boulevard Rachidi from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October. The practical information page describes participant welcome, bib collection, exhibition areas, meetings with partners and activities for adults and children. It also states that entry to this public village is free for runners and visitors.
Race day brings the Atlantic landmark into view
The start location gives the event a direct connection with one of Casablanca’s defining buildings. Runners will set off beside a mosque that stands on land reclaimed from the Atlantic, while the course continues through the city’s urban and coastal landscape.
The building was delivered in 1993 and designed by French architect Michel Pinseau, according to Bouygues Construction’s project record. Its minaret rises 200 metres, and the complex includes a retractable roof, sculpted arcades and extensive Moroccan decorative work.
That combination of a fixed race venue and a building completed more than three decades ago gives the October programme a clear visitor context. The marathon does not turn the mosque into a sports arena: it uses the surrounding boulevard and the landmark’s setting as the start and finish zone.
Inside the mosque, traditional arts remain part of the visit
The Foundation of the Hassan II Mosque describes a prayer hall, minaret hall and ablution rooms as stages of the guided visit. Its visitor rules require clothing covering the shoulders, chest and knees, and shoes are removed before entering the prayer hall.
The complex also contains a museum devoted to the building’s traditional crafts. The Foundation says the museum opened in October 2012 and displays samples connected with zellige, carved wood, marble, copper, plaster and painted wood. The museum history page describes it as an introduction to the mosque’s construction and Moroccan craftsmanship.
Visiting Hassan II Mosque: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Casablanca Marathon takes place on 25 October 2026, with the start and finish beside Hassan II Mosque on Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah.
- The race occupies the start area, while the mosque remains a religious and visitor site. The race programme and mosque visit are separate activities.
- Espace Sacré-Cœur hosts the public marathon village from 21 to 24 October 2026, with bib collection, exhibitions and activities.
- The mosque stands on Casablanca’s Atlantic waterfront. The approach includes a broad boulevard and open esplanade, while visitors entering the prayer hall remove their shoes.
- Morocco’s official languages are Arabic and Amazigh, and the national currency is the Moroccan dirham.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Hassan II Mosque
When does the Casablanca Marathon take place at Hassan II Mosque?
The Casablanca Marathon starts and finishes near Hassan II Mosque on 25 October 2026. The programme includes a marathon, half-marathon and relay.
What is Hassan II Mosque?
It is a mosque and religious complex in Casablanca, delivered in 1993 and designed by Michel Pinseau. Its minaret is 200 metres high.
Where is Hassan II Mosque and how do you get there?
The mosque is on Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah beside the Atlantic waterfront. The marathon organiser identifies the start area next to the mosque, opposite Rue Regraga.
