Sunday, May 23, 2027 · Africa’s first World Marathon Major
The Cape Town Marathon
In June, Cape Town became the eighth World Marathon Major and the first in Africa. Its first race as a Major is on May 23, 2027, on a loop from Green Point that runs in the shadow of Table Mountain, climbs through the Company’s Garden and finishes along the Atlantic seafront. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
From our newsroom
The latest from Cape Town
What Cape Town Joining the Majors Actually Changes
Africa has a Major. What it means for the race, for African runners, and for anyone chasing the full set of stars.
Cape Town Marathon Joins World Majors, the First Ever in Africa
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was confirmed as the eighth race in the series, with its first edition as a Major in May 2027.
Mohamed Esa Wins in a Course Record 2:04:55 as Kipchoge Finishes 16th
The fastest marathon ever run on African soil, and more than three minutes under the old course record.
Dera Dida Wins in 2:23:18 as Ethiopia Sweeps the Women’s Podium
Dida finished 56 seconds outside Glenrose Xaba’s course record, leading an all-Ethiopian top three.
The 2026 race · Sunday, May 24
Records fell on the way to Major status
Cape Town’s final race as a candidate was its fastest ever, run in near-perfect conditions after a 2025 edition that was called off on race morning because of wind.
Men
| Athlete | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Esa (ETH) | 2:04:55 |
| 2 | Yihunilign Adane (ETH) | 2:04:59 |
| 3 | Kalipus Lomwai (KEN) | 2:05:06 |
Women
| Athlete | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dera Dida (ETH) | 2:23:18 |
| 2 | Mestawut Fikir (ETH) | 2:23:46 |
| 3 | Waganesh Amare (ETH) | 2:23:57 |
The fastest marathon ever run in Africa
Mohamed Esa won in 2:04:55, taking more than three minutes off Abdisa Tola’s course record of 2:08:16 from 2024. It was the fastest marathon ever run on African soil, and Esa’s first marathon win, about a month after he failed to finish Boston. The first ten men all finished inside the old record.
An Ethiopian sweep
Dera Dida led Ethiopia to all three podium places in 2:23:18, 56 seconds outside the course record Glenrose Xaba of South Africa set on her marathon debut in 2024. Four months later Dida was third in Berlin in 2:16:55.
Kipchoge’s first marathon at home
Eliud Kipchoge finished 16th in 2:13:29, his first competitive marathon on African soil and the first stop of a tour of seven marathons on seven continents. Afterward he went back out to run his wife, Grace Sugut, home in her first marathon. In the wheelchair races, David Weir (1:30:20) and Manuela Schär (1:43:25) both set course records.
The course
A loop under Table Mountain, with the hill at 30K
The race is a single loop that starts and finishes in Green Point, by DHL Stadium. There are two start areas, on Fritz Sonnenberg Road beside the stadium and on Beach Road in Mouille Point, and the waves alternate between them before the routes join early on. The course heads out toward the southern suburbs, past Rondebosch Common, then back through Salt River and Woodstock into the city center.
The hardest part comes late. Between about 30.7 and 32.1 km the route climbs through the Company’s Garden, the longest and steepest climb of the day, before dropping down Long Street. The last section is an out-and-back along the Sea Point Promenade, from about 36 km to 41 km, with the Atlantic on one side and nowhere to hide from the wind, before the finish on Vlei Road. It is rolling rather than flat, with third-party estimates of about 260 to 280 meters of climbing.
The race moved from October to May in 2026, for cooler weather and less risk of the south-easterly wind that forced organizers to cancel the 2025 race about 90 minutes before the start. Our mile-by-mile course guide · Why the 2025 race was canceled
The record book
Course records and recent winners
| Division | Athlete | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Mohamed Esa (ETH) | 2:04:55 | 2026 |
| Women | Glenrose Xaba (RSA) | 2:22:22 | 2024 |
| Men’s wheelchair | David Weir (GBR) | 1:30:20 | 2026 |
| Women’s wheelchair | Manuela Schär (SUI) | 1:43:25 | 2026 |
| Year | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:04:55 | Dera Dida (ETH) 2:23:18 |
| 2025 | Canceled on race morning because of high winds | |
| 2024 | Abdisa Tola (ETH) 2:08:16 | Glenrose Xaba (RSA) 2:22:22 |
| 2023 | Adane Kebede Gebre (ETH) 2:11:28 | Tsige Haileslase Abreha (ETH) 2:24:17 |
| 2022 | Stephen Mokoka (RSA) 2:09:58 | Meseret Dinke Meleka (ETH) 2:24:02 |
Entry
Getting into 2027
The general ballot for the first Cape Town race as a Major ran from June 10 to 24, 2026, and has closed. Two-thirds of places are reserved for runners from Africa, and there is no qualifying time.
Ways in now the ballot has closed
- A tour operator. International tour operator places opened on June 26, first come, first served. Official partners include Sports Tours International and Marathon Tours & Travel, and more than 80 operators sell packages around the world.
- A charity place. Charity entries also opened on June 26, first come, first served, through the race’s run-for-charity program.
- A deferred or sponsored place. Runners who were entered for the canceled 2025 race had their places for 2026 or 2027 funded by Sanlam, the title sponsor.
Chasing stars? Everyone who finished the 2026 race got a provisional Abbott World Marathon Majors star, to be upgraded to a full star now that Cape Town has been confirmed. The Six Star Finisher medal still covers the original six races, and a Nine Star medal is planned if Shanghai joins the series in 2027.
Race weekend
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Thu, May 20 | Expo and registration at DHL Stadium, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Fri, May 21 | Expo, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat, May 22 | Expo, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus the 5K and 10K Peace Runs and the 11K and 22K trail runs |
| Sun, May 23 | The marathon and wheelchair races. Start times are announced closer to race day. |
Times are local (SAST) and from the organizers’ 2027 expo schedule. In 2026 the winners each earned $35,000, with a $20,000 bonus for a course record.
The archive
All our Cape Town Marathon coverage
Becoming a Major
The 2026 race
- 2026 Cape Town Marathon Men’s Results
- 2026 Cape Town Marathon Women’s Results
- Kipchoge Opens World Tour in Cape Town With Emotional African Debut
- Grace Sugut Finishes Her First Marathon in Cape Town, and Eliud Kipchoge Runs Her Home
- The Shoes That Won the 2026 Cape Town Marathon
- What Should Eliud Kipchoge Do at the Cape Town Marathon?
- Cape Town Marathon 2026 Elite Field Preview
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Cape Town Marathon?
Sunday, May 23, 2027, with the expo from May 20 to 22 and the Peace Runs and trail runs on Saturday, May 22. It will be the race’s first edition as a World Marathon Major.
Is the Cape Town Marathon a World Marathon Major?
Yes. Abbott World Marathon Majors confirmed it as the eighth Major, and the first in Africa, in June 2026, after it passed its final evaluation at the May 2026 race. It joins Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
How do I enter?
The 2027 general ballot ran from June 10 to 24, 2026 and has closed. Places are still available through official international tour operators and charities, first come, first served. Two-thirds of all places are reserved for runners from Africa.
Do I need a qualifying time?
No. There is no qualifying time, license or club membership requirement. Marathon runners must be at least 18 on race day.
What is the time limit?
Six hours 30 minutes, timed from when the last runner crosses the start mat. There are intermediate cutoffs along the route.
Why did the race move to May?
Organizers moved it from October to May from 2026 for cooler autumn weather, less chance of the strong south-easterly wind and a quieter tourist season. The 2025 race was canceled on race morning after high winds damaged the race village.
