The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon becomes the EIGHTH Abbott World Marathon Major

The news we’ve all been waiting for is here – the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is OFFICIALLY the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major. The first major marathon in Africa, the race has passed its criteria after an extended four-year period. The 2027 edition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be the first official year of it being a marathon major, taking place on Sunday 23 May 2027.

What does that mean for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon?

That means that it is now classified as one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. Thousands of extra runners are now expected to take part in the 2027 edition, meaning demand for places will surge. When the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS was announced as the newest entry to the Abbott World Marathon Majors series for 2025, it attracted a record number of runners and made it one of the most popular marathons in the world. A similar situation is expected to occur for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, meaning the best way to secure your place is with the Official Tour Operator of the series, ourselves! Click here for more information on our packages.

What is the history of the Abbott World Marathon Majors?

The Abbott World Marathon Majors is amongst the most famous collections of marathon races in the world and features some of the most historic individual races on the planet. Further to its prestige, this year (2026) marks its 20th year, meaning there’s been two full decades of the most elite races in the marathon calendar. With the addition of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon from 2027, it is now comprised of eight of the most famous marathons anywhere in the world. They are as follows…

The Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America is widely renowned to be the oldest annual marathon in the world, with its first edition in 1897 – taking inspiration from the Olympics in Athens in 1896! The BMW-BERLIN MARATHON celebrated its 50th year in 2024 with a record-breaking 54,280 finishers taking to the German capital’s streets! The TCS London Marathon is officially recognised as the largest fundraising event in the world globally, with the event raising over £1 billion since its first edition way back in 1981! That race took inspiration from the TCS New York City Marathon, which passes through all five of New York’s boroughs – a far cry from its first race in 1970, which was simply as many laps as it took of Central Park until runners hit 26.2 miles! The Bank of America Chicago Marathon makes up the third and final world marathon major based in the U.S. and is consistently regarded as one of the fastest marathons anywhere in the world. The Tokyo Marathon is arguably the most popular of the lot, owing to its location on the continent of Asia, with applications to run outweighing places in the race by as much as tenfold! The newest addition to the fold is the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, joining in 2025 and providing one of the best finish lines anywhere in the running calendar – in front of the Sydney Opera House!

Why has Cape Town been selected?

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has been selected to help establish the race on its FIFTH continent; Africa. That now means that the only way you can run all SEVEN continents is with us at Marathon Tours & Travel on our own Antarctica Marathon® and via a South American race, such as the Mendoza Marathon, the legendary Rio de Janeiro Marathon or our very own Patagonia Marathon or Amazon Marathon! Now that another continent is represented in the marathon major series, runners can experience different cultures, crowds and conditions anywhere in the world on their pursuit to marathon greatness! In terms of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon itself, it brings one of the most beautiful courses in the series, if not the world. Running underneath the jaw-dropping views of Table Mountain, you get the perfect mix of urban sprawl, adoring crowds and beautiful rural views, as you race at the very tip of the African continent.

How do I get a Cape Town Marathon entry?

With Marathon Tours & Travel! The ballot for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 2027 will be open between the 10th and 26th of June, with results announced shortly after. Booking through us removes any of that worry! Our Sanlam Cape Town Marathon packages include guaranteed entry when you buy our accommodation packages. Our packages are built for both runners and your supporters, with pre-race introduction parties, meals to help you prepare for your race, directed walks or transport to the race start and post-race celebrations as well! As the Official Tour Operator for the Abbott World Marathon Majors, we are able to provide travel packages to all eight of the races, take a look at where we can take you here.

Are there any other candidate events?

Yes there are. Shanghai Marathon 2026 will mark the third of three years as a candidate event. Should it pass it will become the ninth entry to the Abbott World Marathon Majors, starting from 2027.

What will happen to my six star medal?

You can keep it, with no pressure to add the newer marathons to achieve anything! The target for all runners aiming to do the Abbott World Marathon Majors is to achieve their Six Star Medal. The current Six Star program will remain in place for runners striving to complete the original six Abbott World Marathon Major races. AbbottWMM has committed to keeping the Six Star medal which will continue to be awarded even when the Nine Star medal becomes available.

Further to this, Cape Town will now form part of the journey towards the next Major milestone, the new Nine Star medal. Watch this space for a nine star medal should Shanghai Marathon join the party soon, however…