The 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships have been awarded to the South African city of Cape Town, marking the first time the event will be held in Africa.
Following a successful joint application by Golazo South Africa, Athletics South Africa and Western Province Athletics, Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain will provide a stunning location for the championships, which will take place from 6-10 October 2027.
Cape Town, known as the gateway to Africa, has a proven track record of staging major running events, including the Cape Town Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon, one of the most scenic ultra-marathons in the world.
Diverse challenge
While Table Mountain boasts a unique flat-top peak, the trails around Cape Town feature significant elevation changes. Runners will face steep ascents and descents, particularly on Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, presenting a tough yet rewarding challenge.
There will also be a variety of terrains, from rugged, technical paths to fast descents, offering a diverse and challenging experience for runners of all levels. One of the biggest rewards will come in the form of the unparalleled panoramic views of the city, the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding mountains.
The World Mountain Running Championships began in 1985 and was an annual fixture, while 2007 saw the first World Trail Championships. The two events merged in 2021 to become the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships and the event shifted to a biennial format with the first edition held in Chiang Mai, which was postponed by a year.
The 2023 edition was held in Innsbruck and Stubai, while this year’s championships will take place in Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain, between 25-28 September.
There are four senior championship races with individual and team medals awarded in each: classic (up and down), uphill, short trail and long trail. Along with an U20 championship race, there will also be mass participation and side events, allowing amateur runners to experience the thrill of the event.
It is estimated that about 1,200 runners from more than 80 nations will compete in the championship races in 2027, while more than 2,000 runners will take to the start line for the mass participation events.
Coe welcomes news
“It is always exciting when a major athletics event is staged in a new continent for the first time, and this is no exception,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
“Cape Town hosting the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships marks not only an exciting opportunity for the local area, but also for the sport as a whole.
“This will be the fifth global athletics event held in Africa within a 10-year period, and I have every faith that Cape Town will prove to be spectacular hosts of these championships.”
