Cape Town Confirmed as Eighth World Marathon Major

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has officially been admitted as the eighth member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, marking a significant expansion of the sport's most prestigious commercial and competitive circuit.

Following a successful evaluation during its staging on May 24, 2026, the event passed the second and final tier of the strict Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) assessment process. The race will formally enter the global series for its next edition on May 23th, 2027, taking its place alongside long-established events in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and the recently inducted Sydney

The Road to the Elite Eight

The decision ends years of campaigning and rigorous operational vetting by the international governing body. To achieve Major status, candidate races must meet stringent criteria covering elite athlete depth, logistical execution, medical infrastructure, and participant numbers.

The inclusion is a notable operational triumph for the organizers, particularly after facing the setback of a cancelled event in 2025. The 2026 race drew over 27,000 participants, all of whom received provisional finisher stars that will now be fully upgraded to official Major status in the coming weeks.

AbbottWMM Chief Executive Dawna Stone confirmed the decision, praising the resilience of the local organization:

“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.”

The Evolving World Marathon Majors Circuit

The addition of Cape Town marks the latest step in the global expansion of the series, which recently grew to seven with the inclusion of Sydney. The ultimate objective of the organization is the establishment of a Nine Star Medal tier, with the Shanghai Marathon currently under evaluation to potentially fill the ninth slot later this year.

The current line-up for the global series is now finalized as follows:

With Cape Town’s formal inclusion, the global marathon calendar expands to eight marquee events. The updated line-up of the World Marathon Majors now comprises:

Tokyo Marathon (Japan) – Established Core Major

Boston Marathon (United States) – Established Core Major

London Marathon (United Kingdom) – Established Core Major

Berlin Marathon (Germany) – Established Core Major

Chicago Marathon (United States) – Established Core Major

New York City Marathon (United States) – Established Core Major

Sydney Marathon (Australia) – Seventh Major (Inducted 2025)

Cape Town Marathon (South Africa) – Eighth Major (Debut May 2027)

A Collective Milestone

For race director and CEO Clark Gardner, the confirmation is the culmination of a highly coordinated effort involving corporate backing, local municipal services, and the region's broader running community. The event relied heavily on its "#YouDoCount" campaign to drive the mass-participation numbers required by international assessors.

"This achievement belongs to every person who believed in and committed to this vision," Gardner said following the announcement. "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 structural shift means international mass-participation runners will face a reshaped calendar from 2027 onward. While the traditional Six Star Medal program remains intact for runners wishing to complete the original six events, the inclusion of Cape Town cements a new era of globalized competition for elite and amateur athletes alike.