By Adnaan Mohamed
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has announced that entries for the 2026 Comrades Marathon will open at 12:00 on Monday, 27 October 2025, with the first week reserved exclusively for Green Number Club runners and CMA Members.
Entries for all other athletes will open on Monday, 3 November at 10:00, and close on 28 November, or earlier if the entry cap of 22,000 is reached. The CMA confirmed that this will be the only entry window for the 2026 race.
“This early entry window is a token of appreciation to all Green Number Club athletes and CMA Members for their many years of loyalty and dedication to The Ultimate Human Race,” said CMA General Manager Alain Dalais.
“We are incredibly proud of our Green Number Club members and inspired by their commitment. Similarly, we value and appreciate our CMA Members, who take a greater interest in everything to do with the event.”
Only CMA members who signed up or renewed by 23 October 2025 will qualify for early entry.
Recognising Loyalty
The Green Number Club includes runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 10 times, earned five gold medals, or won the race three times. The early entry opportunity was introduced in 2025 and extended this year to include CMA Members.
“This offer honours the dedication and perseverance of athletes who have achieved permanent Green Number status and those who support the race as CMA Members,” said Dalais.
Entry Fees Unchanged
Entries can be completed online at www.comrades.com or via the official Comrades Marathon app. The CMA confirmed that entry fees remain unchanged for the third consecutive year.
“In our continuing effort to make the race accessible to as many runners as we can, we have kept the entry fees the same since 2023,” said Dalais.
“Also, as a further reward for exceptional commitment, the entry fee is waived for runners who have earned 25 or more Comrades medals.”
Entry fees for 2026:
- South Africa: R1200
- Rest of Africa: R2000
- International: R4500
Runners may pay the full amount immediately or in two instalments, with the balance due by end-February 2026. Up to 1,500 disadvantaged athletes will be able to apply for reduced fees of up to 50% through the Comrades Runners’ Relief Fund.
Qualification and Substitutions
The qualification period for the 2026 Comrades Marathon runs from 9 June 2025 to 4 May 2026. To qualify, runners must complete an officially timed 42.2km marathon in under five hours.
The deadline for submitting qualifying details, club information and seeding upgrades is 4 May 2026.
The withdrawal window will run from 16 to 30 March 2026, followed by the substitution window from 1 to 15 April 2026.
“The athlete substituting in will pay the full 2026 entry fee to the CMA,” said Dalais. “The withdrawing athlete will be charged a 15% administrative fee and refunded 85% of their entry fee. No money or vouchers will be exchanged between athletes.”
The 2026 Up Run
The 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon will also mark the 50th Up Run, from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, on Sunday, 14 June 2026. The race will start at 5:30am outside Durban City Hall and finish 12 hours later at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse, covering approximately 87km.
The official race campaign, “Ska Fela Moya” is Setswana for Don’t Give Up. It embodies the determination and resilience that have defined the Comrades spirit for nearly a century.
Photo: Tobias Ginsberg