AFRICA HAS ITS MAJOR
Published: 15/06/2026, By: Alex Courbat
The marathon world just got a little bigger. On 10 June 2026, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was officially confirmed as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major, joining Boston, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Chicago, New York and Sydney in marathon running's most exclusive club. For runners all over the world, that's huge news.
Major status isn't something a race simply applies for and receives. Cape Town spent years working through a demanding candidacy process, meeting strict standards around race organisation, athlete experience, medical support, broadcasting and logistics.
The journey even hit a major setback when the 2025 race was cancelled due to severe weather. But the organisers came back stronger in 2026 and earned their place on marathon running's biggest stage. And what a stage it is.
Every Major has its personality. Boston has its history. Berlin has its speed. London has its atmosphere. New York has its energy. Cape Town brings something entirely different.
The course runs beneath Table Mountain, along the Atlantic coastline and through one of the most spectacular cities on the planet. It's the kind of race where the scenery is almost as memorable as the running itself.
In a world where runners increasingly build holidays around race weekends, that matters. People want more than a finish time. They want an experience. Cape Town has that in abundance.
One of the reasons the Majors are so special is that they feel bigger than just races. They're bucket-list events. Adding Cape Town gives runners something new to chase. A new course. A new city. A new medal. A new story.
The excitement is already obvious. The 2027 ballot is open, and runners across the world are scrambling to secure a place in the first official Major edition of the race. Many see it as one of the most appealing additions the series has ever made.
And it's easy to see why. How often does a brand-new World Marathon Major come along?
Cape Town is the latest step in the evolution of the Major series. Sydney became the seventh Major in 2024. Cape Town is now number eight, with the possibility of further expansion still to come. The sport's most prestigious collection of races is growing, and runners are getting more opportunities to be part of it. But beyond the numbers, this just feels like a good addition.
The race has world-class organisation. It has a spectacular setting. It attracts elite athletes, passionate supporters and thousands of runners from around the globe. Around 27,000 runners took part in the 2026 event alone.
Most importantly, it adds something fresh. For years, marathon runners have dreamed about earning a place on a Major start line. Now there's a new one to dream about.
Forty-two kilometres. One extraordinary city. And one of the most exciting new chapters marathon running has seen in a very long time.
