For the first time, runners on the African continent will line up for a World Marathon Major on home soil. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was confirmed on Wednesday as the eighth race to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the global series that includes Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
The decision follows the second and final stage of the Abbott World Marathon Majors assessment, which the race passed after staging its 2026 edition on 24 May. Cape Town will formally enter the series at its next edition on 23 May 2027.
The milestone closes a long-standing geographic gap in a sport that has been shaped by African athletes for decades. By the event’s own count, roughly 80 percent of the world’s top 50 elite marathon runners come from Africa, yet none of the seven existing Majors are within reach without international travel, visas and the costs that come with them.
“It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family,” said Dawna Stone, chief executive of Abbott World Marathon Majors, in a statement released by the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. “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.”
Stone added that the city would “bring a whole new dimension to our series” and predicted that runners across Africa and beyond would have what she called “a phenomenal experience.”
A Long Road Through Candidacy
The path to Major status was not smooth. The 2025 race could not go ahead, a setback that organisers say tested the partners and runners who had committed to the candidacy process. Sponsors stayed on. Runners returned, answering the event’s #YouDoCount campaign and helping to push entry numbers to the thresholds Abbott World Marathon Majors requires for inclusion.
Clark Gardner, the chief executive and race director of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, framed the result as a shared one.
“This achievement belongs to every person who believed in and committed to this vision,” Gardner said in the official statement. “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.”
Sanlam, the South African financial services group that has backed the race since its early years, marked 13 years of sponsorship with the announcement. Paul Hanratty, the group’s chief executive, called the news “a collective victory” and said the company hoped the moment would “inspire people across Africa to dream bigger, go further and live with confidence.”
What This Means for African Runners
Cost has long shaped who gets to run a Major. Flights, hotels and visa paperwork add up quickly for runners travelling from Africa to Boston or Berlin, and many qualified athletes have simply never been able to go. Cape Town shifts that math.
In a move aimed at protecting access for the continent’s runners, organisers say two-thirds of race entries will be reserved for African participants. Recreational runners chasing a lifelong goal will be able to enter alongside elites looking for a fast course and global exposure.
The 2026 edition offered an early signal of the race’s growing pull. Eliud Kipchoge, the two-time Olympic champion and eleven-time Major winner widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time, chose Cape Town for his first official marathon on African soil.
Jennifer Thomas, vice president of sports marketing and communities for global brands at adidas, said the company was “honoured to support an event that has earned its place among the world’s most iconic marathons.” She added that Africa’s first Major “shines a global spotlight on the powerful running culture and creates new opportunities for athletes and communities across the continent.” Adidas is also a sponsor of the Boston and Berlin marathons.
An Economic Boost for Cape Town
Becoming a Major is expected to bring substantial economic activity to Cape Town and the surrounding region. Organisers project the event will contribute around 800 million rand to the local economy, counting spending on travel within South Africa, accommodation and meals alone.
Geordin Hill-Lewis, the mayor of Cape Town, described the announcement as “an incredible moment for our city.” He said hosting a Major would “contribute greatly to Cape Town’s economy, inspire future generations of runners, and leave a legacy for the sport across Africa.”
The arrival of a Major also adds Cape Town to a small group of races chasing the next phase of the series. With eight Majors now confirmed, attention is turning to whether and when a ninth Major could complete the picture, alongside the existing Six Star and forthcoming Nine Star finisher medals.
How to Enter
The 2027 race carries the weight of being the first official African Major, and entries are already moving. The general ballot opened on 10 June 2026 and will close on 24 June. Applicants will be notified of the outcome on 26 June.
Entries for the Peace Run and Trail Runs that accompany the marathon weekend open on 3 July. Members of the event’s Candidacy Club, who supported the race through its assessment years, have been given the option to choose the year they wish to race.
The 2027 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be staged on 23 May. Entry details are available at www.capetownmarathon.com.
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