Cape Town has secured a place in global sporting history after the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was officially welcomed into the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors series, becoming the first event on African soil to earn the distinction, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Cape Town Marathon/Facebook
The announcement marks a landmark moment not only for South Africa but for the entire continent, placing Cape Town alongside marathon powerhouses such as Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, Sydney and New York.
The Sanlam Cape Town marathon’s successful 2026 edition, held in May, completed the final stage of an extensive assessment process required by the Abbott World Marathon Majors organisation. The achievement means Cape Town will officially take its place as the eighth Major when the 2027 race takes place.
For many runners across Africa, the milestone carries significance beyond sporting prestige.
Until now, athletes hoping to experience a World Marathon Major often faced expensive international travel, visa applications and accommodation costs. The addition of Cape Town creates a Major event much closer to home for thousands of runners across the continent.
The achievement is particularly fitting given Africa’s dominance in long-distance running. The continent continues to produce many of the world’s top marathon athletes, yet it has never before hosted one of the sport’s most celebrated races.
Behind the announcement lies years of effort from race organisers, volunteers, sponsors, running clubs and supporters who backed the marathon’s bid to join the elite global series. Race Director Clark Gardner described the achievement as a victory shared by countless people who believed in the project from the beginning.
‘This achievement belongs to every person who believed in and committed to this vision,‘ Gardner said. The marathon’s candidacy journey was not without challenges. Organisers relied heavily on growing participation numbers and maintaining strong community support while working to meet the demanding standards required by the World Marathon Majors.
The #YouDoCount campaign became a rallying point for runners who returned year after year to help build the event into a world-class spectacle.
Abbott World Marathon Majors CEO Dawna Stone praised the race’s growth and welcomed Cape Town into the global marathon family. ‘It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family,‘ she said. Stone highlighted the city’s unique atmosphere, scenic beauty and enthusiastic local support as qualities that will bring something new to the international series.
Cape Town’s inclusion is also expected to elevate South Africa’s profile as a destination for major sporting events, further strengthening the city’s reputation for hosting world-class competitions.
Many observers believe the race’s growing global reputation was already evident during the 2026 event. The presence of marathon legend and two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge drew international attention after he chose Cape Town for his first official marathon appearance on African soil.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners in history, Kipchoge’s participation, along with other world-class runners like Mohamed Esa, was seen by many as a sign that the race had firmly established itself on the world stage.
With the historic announcement now official, attention turns to the 2027 edition, which will serve as Africa’s first official Abbott World Marathon Major. Details and entries are available here.
Article by Cameron Kelly for Cape ETC
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