Cape Town Becomes Africa’s First Abbott World Marathon Major

South Africa has stepped into the very top tier of global distance running, with Cape Town confirmed as Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major. This move puts the country alongside the world’s most iconic city races and cements its place on marathon running’s most exclusive stage.

Africa’s first World Marathon Major

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has officially become the eighth member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, joining Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York. It passed the second and final phase of the Majors’ assessment, earning full status and confirming that Africa now has a race in the sport’s most prestigious series. The event will formally enter the series in 2027, giving South Africa a permanent spot in the calendar of the world’s most coveted marathons.

This is more than a new logo on the finish-line arch. It marks the first time a marathon on African soil sits in the same conversation as Boston or Berlin when runners plan their “six-star” journeys. For South African athletes and everyday runners alike, it means they can chase Major stars at home rather than always flying north.

A race built on South African running culture

The Cape Town Marathon has worked toward this moment for years, using each edition to refine logistics, deepen community support and elevate competitive standards. Organisers have deliberately built strong elite fields, with African athletes, many of them South African, at the center of the race narrative. Course records have fallen as top names from Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa have treated the route as a serious stage, not just a scenic run.

At mass level, the race taps into a deep local running culture that already includes legendary events like Comrades and the Two Oceans Marathon. That heritage helped Cape Town pass the demanding criteria for Major status: world-class organisation, broadcast appeal, elite depth, medical and safety standards, and a compelling experience for thousands of age‑group runners.

What Major status means for South Africa

Becoming a World Marathon Major will reshape how the world sees South African running. International elites and club runners now have another marquee destination on their lists, one that combines technical racing with Table Mountain, ocean views and a crowd base that understands endurance sport. Age‑group competitors chasing Abbott stars will add Cape Town to their rotation, increasing travel, tourism spend and global visibility for the city and the country.

For South African athletes, the impact is even more direct. Homegrown marathoners gain a world‑class stage without leaving the continent, with all the ranking points, prize structures and sponsor attention that Majors attract. Younger runners can watch a Major from the roadside or TV and know it is happening in their own backyard, which matters for talent pipelines and inspiration.

A win for the continent

Cape Town’s elevation also carries symbolic weight for Africa as a whole. The continent has produced many of the greatest marathon runners in history, yet until now all Majors took place elsewhere. Giving Africa its own Major acknowledges that the heart of distance running does not only beat in northern capitals; it lives on African roads, trails and track systems that have shaped generations of champions.

In that sense, South Africa is hosting more than a race. It is holding space for African running culture on the sport’s top platform, showcasing everything from elite prowess to community clubs and charity runners in front of a global audience. As the Cape Town Marathon settles into its new status, it will not just join marathon running’s most exclusive stage; it will help redefine it.