The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has been confirmed as the first Abbott World Marathon Major to be held on African soil.
Following the successful staging of its 2026 race on 24 May, the event has passed the second and final stage of its AbbottWMM assessment, becoming the eighth member of the most prestigious series in marathon running globally.
The race joins seven of the sport’s most celebrated marathons – Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York, and will formally enter the series at its next edition on 23 May 2027.
Yet while becoming the eighth Major is a singular achievement, it is the event’s standing as Africa’s first that defines this moment in history.
“It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family,” said AbbottWMM CEO Dawna Stone. “After watching the race grow in size and stature during its candidacy and also seeing the resilience and dedication of the team lead so wonderfully by Clark Gardner, Africa’s first Major has finally arrived.
“The unique culture, the welcome from the people of the city and the wonderful setting Cape Town provides will bring a whole new dimension to our series. I know runners in Africa and across the world will have a phenomenal experience at this race.”
‘Collective victory’
Responding to the news, a media release from the Cape Town Marathon said: “The achievement is, above all, a shared one. Becoming a Major was never the work of an event alone, but the result of years of collective effort by every community that rallied around the race.
“Residents, running clubs, volunteers, sponsors, supporters, service providers and city partners each played their part.
“Through the candidacy years, runners returned season after season, answering the call of the #YouDoCount campaign and building the entry numbers that carried the race toward passing AbbottWMM assessment criteria.”
Clark Gardner, CEO and race director, added: “This achievement belongs to every person who believed in and committed to this vision – we could never have reached this moment alone. Our runners carried us to the numbers we needed, our sponsors and partners stood firm beside us even when the 2025 race could not go ahead, and our supporters, club captains, residents and service providers each played their part.
“The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon stands as proof that when Africa comes together, we can achieve anything. This victory belongs to all of them.”
That sentiment was echoed by the event’s title sponsor. “Today, we celebrate a collective victory,” said Sanlam Group CEO Paul Hanratty. “For 13 years, Sanlam has been part of this journey, walking alongside the event as a committed partner and supporting its growth into a world-class platform. We hope this moment inspires people across Africa to dream bigger, go further and live with confidence.”
A Major for Africa
For decades, the World’s Marathon Majors lay thousands of kilometres from the continent that produces so many of the sport’s finest athletes, placing the achievement beyond reach of all but a few once the cost of international travel, visas and accommodation was counted.
Africa’s first Major changes that. From the recreational runner pursuing a lifelong ambition to the elite chasing a world-class competition and exposure, runners across the continent can now line up for a Major on home soil.
The vision has always been anchored in a striking truth: approximately 80% of the world’s top 50 elite marathon runners hail from Africa. Yet it reaches far beyond the elite field and African excellence. At its heart, this is about access, about every African, every South African and every Capetonian who had longed to run a Major but never had one within reach. And in honour of that purpose, the event says it is committed to keeping two-thirds of its race entries available to African participants.
The 2026 edition also welcomed Eliud Kipchoge, eleven times Major winner, two-time Olympic champion and widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, who chose Cape Town for his first official marathon on African soil, a sign of the stature the race now carries.
Ballot open now for 2027
The journey to the start line of Africa’s first Major begins immediately.
The general ballot for the 2027 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is open from 10 June to 24 June 2026, with all applicants notified of the outcome on 26 June.
Entries for the accompanying Peace Run and Trail Runs will open on 3 July 2026.
Entries are available at www.capetownmarathon.com.
