Marrakesh Medina hosts La Kéchoise on 4 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 08:15 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Marrakesh Medina hosts La Kéchoise on 4 October 2026, with the women-only race beginning at Koutoubia Square in Marrakesh. The seven-kilometre route finishes at Place des Ferblantiers and crosses several notable sites in the historic quarter.
La Kéchoise is organised by the La Kéchoise association with the Grand Atlas Association as part of Pink October. The event links sport with awareness of breast cancer prevention and screening.
La Kéchoise starts at Koutoubia Square on 4 October
The sixth edition starts at 8.30am on Sunday 4 October 2026, according to the event listing by La Tribune de Marrakech. The same listing identifies Place de la Koutoubia in the medina as the venue and Place des Ferblantiers as the finish.
The race is open to different levels of ability and can be completed by running or walking. The programme also includes a partners’ village at Koutoubia Square on 3 October 2026, with workshops in boxing, taekwondo, Pilates, yoga and dance.
The event’s three-day programme began on 2 October 2026 with a launch evening in the Agafay Desert. That separate activity is outside the medina, while the race and the partners’ village place the public programme beside one of its best-known landmarks.
Marrakesh Medina gives the race a historic route
The historic quarter was founded in 1070-1072 by the Almoravids, according to the UNESCO description of the medina. Its monuments include Koutoubia Mosque, the kasbah, ramparts, monumental gates, gardens, the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace and Jemaa el-Fna Square.
UNESCO lists the medina as a World Heritage property under criteria covering architecture, urban development, historic Islamic capitals and the living historic town. The property covers 700 hectares and contains lanes, houses, souks, fondouks, craft activities and traditional trades.
That setting makes La Kéchoise more than a start-line gathering at a single square. On 4 October 2026, the published route connects Koutoubia Square with Place des Ferblantiers through the living urban fabric that UNESCO describes as part of the property.
What the 4 October route means for visitors
The race is a women-only sporting event, while the route passes through public parts of the medina. Travellers who are not participating can therefore use the listed squares and streets as reference points, but the event listing does not provide a separate spectator programme.
The seven-kilometre course is the central practical fact for the visit. The published format permits walking, so the route itself is not limited to runners, although the course involves moving through the medina rather than remaining at Koutoubia Square.
Visiting Marrakesh Medina: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- La Kéchoise takes place on 4 October 2026. The race starts at 8.30am at Place de la Koutoubia and ends at Place des Ferblantiers.
- The partners’ village is scheduled for 3 October 2026 at Place de la Koutoubia, with workshops listed by the organiser’s event information.
- The route covers seven kilometres through Marrakesh Medina and can be completed by running or walking.
- The medina contains narrow lanes, souks, traditional trades and historic monuments, so the route passes through a dense pedestrian setting rather than an open athletics track.
- 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 Marrakesh Medina
When does La Kéchoise take place at Marrakesh Medina?
La Kéchoise starts at 8.30am on 4 October 2026 at Place de la Koutoubia, with the finish at Place des Ferblantiers.
What is Marrakesh Medina?
It is the historic quarter founded in 1070-1072 and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage property. Its 700 hectares contain monuments, souks, lanes and traditional trades.
Where is Marrakesh Medina and how do you get there?
The medina is in Marrakesh, Morocco, and the race programme places its start at Koutoubia Square. The published event information does not specify a particular station or transport line.
