This Thursday, June 25, at a press conference, the city of Nice and The IRONMAN Group officially confirmed a renewal of their partnership until 2029 just days before the start of the 2026 edition scheduled for June 28. However, the organization of the 70.3 world championship remains uncertain for the coming years.
A contract until 2029
After several months of uncertainty about the future of triathlon in Nice, Mayor Éric Ciotti and Scott Derue, CEO of The IRONMAN Group, together confirmed the continuation of the IRONMAN adventure in Nice for the years 2027, 2028 and 2029. An agreement that concerns both the IRONMAN France event and the IRONMAN 70.3, both of which have been held annually for over twenty years
“Nice has committed for three additional years with IRONMAN”, declared the deputy mayor in charge of sports, Benoît Kandel, on the sidelines of the conference. “Since 1982, it is an emblematic event of Nice’s sports scene. It was out of the question to stop the adventure.”
On the American side, Scott Derue praised the longevity of the partnership, noting that Nice has always been and will always be one of the flagship destinations. “It is a relationship built over time, with a shared passion.“
The financial aspect at the heart of discussions
The subsidy granted by the city to IRONMAN France remains “strictly identical to what it was previously”, clarified Benoît Kandel. By comparison, the expected economic returns are between 25 and 30 million euros for the region during the single June weekend.
The figures speak for themselves. This year, 4,500 participants are expected. Spectators, meanwhile, will number around 15,000, of which nearly 90% are from outside the city. Many discover Nice on this occasion, with an average spending estimated at 1,000 euros per athlete.
The savings that will be achieved result mainly from the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event, scheduled for September 2026. Indeed, the city will not pay the 1.5 million euro subsidy. « This money will be reinvested without delay in the maintenance of our sports facilities; swimming pools, gymnasiums, rugby stadium”, justified Benoit Kandel, noting that several Nice facilities are suffering from obvious lack of maintenance.
Future championships in limbo
While the 2026 edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship will indeed take place in Nice, the future of other events is still uncertain.
“A world championship does not necessarily take place every year in the same location, recalled the deputy mayor. We have not closed the door to a future organization here, but it is not finalized.”
On The IRONMAN Group’s side, Scott Derue confirmed that other cities around the world are positioning themselves to host the event from 2028 onwards. “We understand the budget constraints facing the city. We remain committed to delivering a world-class championship experience here in 2026. For what comes next, we will analyze the options.”
An opportunity also to recall the particular status of Nice in the triathlon world. With Hawaii, Nice is one of only two cities in the world to have established itself as a reference in the discipline. A legitimacy built since 1982.
“Triathlon has a future in Nice, and this story will continue”, concluded Benoît Kandel. So see you on June 28 in Nice for IRONMAN.
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