Cape Town Confirmed as the Eighth World Marathon Major
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has officially been named the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major. Starting in 2027, Africa will host its first Major marathon. Here is what this historic announcement means for runners, star collectors, and the future of the series.
· 6 min read · Athletics News
Africa is getting its first Abbott World Marathon Major.
On June 11, 2026, the Abbott World Marathon Majors announced that the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has officially passed its multi-year evaluation process and will join the series as the eighth Major starting in 2027. The race is scheduled to make its official Major debut on May 23, 2027.
This is a historic milestone for global distance running. Africa has long produced the world's most dominant marathoners, yet the continent has never hosted a Major. Starting in 2027, that omission is officially corrected.
The path to Major status
Cape Town's journey to the Majors was not a quick one. The race spent several years under evaluation, meeting strict standards for field depth, safety, organizational precision, and participant numbers.
Following the [2026 race results](/blog/cape-town-marathon-2026-results), where course records were shattered, the AbbottWMM team completed their second successful evaluation of the event. The flat, scenic course through the streets of the Mother City with Table Mountain as a constant backdrop proved it was ready for the global stage.
The addition of Cape Town follows the [TCS Sydney Marathon](/races/australia/sydney) joining the series as the seventh Major, which took place in 2025. The rapid expansion of the Abbott World Marathon Majors represents a major shift in the series toward a more global footprint.
What this means for Star collectors
If you are chasing the coveted Six Star Medal, do not worry. The original medal awarded for completing Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York remains unchanged.
However, Cape Town's entry is part of a wider expansion. The Abbott World Marathon Majors plans to introduce a Nine Star Medal in the future. The Shanghai Marathon is currently in the candidate phase and could eventually join as the ninth Major.
For runners who participated in the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, there is great news. The provisional stars awarded to finishers of the 2026 race are being upgraded to full stars, meaning they will officially count toward your AbbottWMM star tally.
What makes Cape Town a spectacular Major
For destination runners, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful courses in the world.
The race runs through the historic streets of the Mother City, taking in coastal stretches, urban landmarks, and the shadow of Table Mountain. May brings late-autumn weather to the Southern Hemisphere, meaning cool, still mornings that are perfect for marathon running.
It is also a city with a massive running culture. Beyond the marathon, Cape Town is famous for the Two Oceans Marathon and Ultra-Trail Cape Town, making it a bucket-list city for runners of all disciplines.
What everyday runners can take from this
The expansion of the [world marathon majors list](/blog/world-marathon-majors) to eight events means more opportunities to run world-class races, but it also means planning needs to start earlier.
- **Plan for the travel:** Running in Cape Town involves a long flight and time zone adjustments for most international runners. Give yourself at least three to four days to adapt before lining up on May 23. - **Understand the terrain:** Unlike flat courses like Berlin or Chicago, Cape Town has rolling terrain and coastal winds. Use a [marathon pace calculator](/tools/marathon-pace-calculator) to set a realistic target pace rather than running blindly. - **Build a training block:** A Major-tier marathon requires 16 to 20 weeks of disciplined training. If you are targeting Cape Town 2027, start mapping your training milestones early using our [run planner](/run-planner).
**Find races:** Browse [marathons and road races in Cape Town](/races/south-africa/cape-town) or discover other [running events in South Africa](/races/country/south-africa) on Your Run Guide to find your next finish line.
Sources
- Abbott World Marathon Majors official site: [worldmarathonmajors.com](https://www.worldmarathonmajors.com/)