By Adnaan Mohamed
The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) has confirmed that all finishers of the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon (SCTM) will earn a provisional AbbottWMM star, marking another major step in Cape Town’s bid to become Africa’s first World Marathon Major.
The 2025 race’s cancellation meant that the city’s second evaluation could not be completed, but AbbottWMM has thrown its full support behind organisers and sponsors for prioritising safety.
“We fully support the decision to cancel the 2025 event in the interests of runners, volunteers and staff,” AbbottWMM said, also applauding title sponsor Sanlam for offering to fund entries for all 2025 participants in 2026 or 2027.
AbbottWMM CEO Dawna Stone praised the local team:
“I’d like to thank race director Clark Gardner and his team for their brave actions under pressure. We look forward to being back in Cape Town next May to see both the runners and the race cross that finish line.”
Race organiser Clark Gardner called the development a milestone moment:
“We’re ecstatic that, should we pass stage 2 in 2026, all finishers will receive an Abbott World Marathon Majors star. It’s a huge step toward becoming Africa’s first Major, and we can’t wait to celebrate it with our incredible running community.”
The 2026 race, taking place on May 24, will also host the AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championships, whose finishers will likewise receive provisional stars.
Ballot entries open on November 6, setting the stage for what could be a historic year for Cape Town, and for African marathon running.
For more info, visit www.capetownmarathon.com.
