We were so excited to hear that the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be joining the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2027! It will not only be the eighth marathon to join the series, but Africa’s first World Marathon Major.

“It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family,” says Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors. “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,” she continues. “I know runners in Africa and across the world will have a phenomenal experience at this race.”

What are the Abbott World Marathon Majors?

They’re a series of iconic marathon races that runners consider to be the most prestigious in the world. Historically, there were only six: Tokyo, Boston, London Marathon, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Many runners aim to run all six, achieving the Six Star medal. Now, the series is working towards launching a Nine Star medal by adding new races.

How does a race become a World Marathon Major?

The races go through a careful evaluation process where they are assessed across multiple events on every aspect of the runner experience. These include the Expo, the race course, the standard of elite athletes recruited, the operational procedures, safety standards and more. Cape Town passed its second assessment at its 2026 event.

Which other marathons are going to be added to the series?

Sydney Marathon has already joined and had its inaugural World Major Marathon event last summer. In addition to Cape Town, Shanghai Marathon has been working through the evaluation process. If it passes assessment at its next event in December this year, it will become the third new race to join the series.