Sanlam Cape Town Marathon to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major from 2027 following strategic commercial collaboration with Infront
Zug, Switzerland - The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will join the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) from 2027, after successfully meeting the series’ evaluation criteria for the second time and completing its candidacy process.
The milestone confirms Cape Town as Africa’s first World Marathon Major, placing it alongside the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, TCS New York City Marathon and most recently the TCS Sydney Marathon.
Following its first successful evaluation in 2024, the event has now demonstrated the consistency required across consecutive assessments, formally securing its place in the AbbottWMM series and marking a historic moment for the sport.
Since partnering with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in 2021, Infront has played a strategic role in supporting the event’s international growth and positioning within the global endurance landscape, with a focus on commercial development, global visibility and long-term strategic expansion.
A milestone that reflects global growth
The addition of Cape Town signals the continued evolution of the Abbott World Marathon Majors into a truly global series. For the first time, the circuit will include a race on the African continent, acknowledging both the region’s deep running heritage and its growing role in the international event landscape.
Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors, said: “It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family. After watching the race grow in size and stature during its candidacy and 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. I know runners in Africa and across the world will have a phenomenal experience at this race.”
For runners worldwide, the inclusion introduces a new destination on the Majors journey, expanding both the geographical footprint and cultural diversity of the series.
Built on scale, performance and global reach
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s elevation to Major status is underpinned by sustained growth across participation, elite performance, and international appeal. In recent editions, the event has attracted tens of thousands of runners – 44,500 in 2026 alone, demonstrating the scale and infrastructure required at the highest level of mass participation sport.
At the same time, the marathon has strengthened its elite credentials, delivering record-breaking performances and attracting globally recognised athletes, further enhancing its position within the international running calendar.
Combined with increasing global visibility and strong engagement from international participants, these factors have been central to meeting the AbbottWMM’s rigorous operational and sporting standards.
Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Senior Vice President Active Lifestyle at Infront, said: “This is a defining moment for the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and for the continued globalisation of mass participation running, a true milestone for the global running community. The consistent progress of the event over recent years reflects the shared long-term vision we have among all stakeholders. We are proud to be part of another successful AbbottWMM candidacy and that Cape Town takes its place among the world’s leading marathons. I would like to thank everybody involved and for contributing to this success story. Together we continue to shape the future of running.”
Clark Gardner, CEO and Race Director of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, added: “To join the Abbott World Marathon Majors as Africa's first is a profound honour. This is a moment generations of African runners have waited for, and it belongs to everyone who carried us here. We are proud to take our place among the world's greatest marathons, and we look forward to welcoming the global running community to Cape Town in 2027.”
A new chapter from 2027
From 2027 onwards, Cape Town’s inclusion is expected to further strengthen the global relevance of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, while creating long-term opportunities for tourism, economic development and community engagement in South Africa.
The achievement represents a shared ambition realised: to establish a world-class marathon that meets the highest international standards while reflecting the unique character and energy of African running.
For the running industry, the addition of Cape Town also underlines the continued expansion of mass participation events into new high-potential markets.
