South Africa · Road marathon · 42.195 km
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is a road marathon through Cape Town’s city streets, with neighbourhood running, coastal stretches and Table Mountain overlooking proceedings. Its first edition as an Abbott World Marathon Major is set for May 2027, following the 2026 race’s successful assessment. The general ballot has closed, so prospective visitors should check official charity and tour allocations. The mountain supplies the backdrop; the runner still supplies the work.
AthRecs race guide · Updated
Upcoming dates
Planning your race weekend? These are the announced dates through 2027. Follow the organiser’s link for the latest date and race-day details. All dates and start times are local.
At a glance
- City / location
- Cape Town
- Province
- Western Cape
- Distance
- 42.195 kilometres / 26.2 miles
- Surface
- Paved roads.
- Course profile
- Predominantly flat city running with changes of gradient; coastal sections are exposed to the weather.
- Approximate field
- About 18,500Reported finishers · 2026
Rounded from 18,512 full-marathon finishers listed by MarathonView, which cites SportSplits. This is one edition, not a multi-year average.
How to enter Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
These are the organiser’s entry routes. Check the linked page for the edition, opening dates, eligibility, fees and current availability.
2027 general ballot — closed
The ballot ran from 10 to 24 June 2026. Successful applicants had a separate payment deadline; submitting a ballot application did not guarantee a place.
Official entry informationOfficial international tour operators
Approved travel operators offer marathon packages with entry. Contact a listed operator for current allocations, package terms and availability.
Official entry informationOfficial charity places
The organiser lists international charity partners offering entry packages. The separate charity allocation for South African residents is sold out.
Official entry informationExisting priority and sponsored allocations
Candidacy Club priority selection has closed. Runners who previously selected a sponsored 2027 place following the 2025 cancellation should follow their organiser-issued redemption instructions.
Official entry informationRoute and course
The published 2026 route links Green Point and Sea Point with central Cape Town and the southern suburbs, including Rondebosch and Newlands. Check the organiser’s route page for the final 2027 layout.
Race-day planning
Check which edition each detail applies to before making your plans. Follow the linked instructions for the latest arrangements.
- Minimum age
- 18 on race day. Minimum age information
- Time limit
- 6 hours 30 minutes; consult the final race instructions for intermediate cutoffs. Time limit information
- 2027 entry transfers
- Entries are not transferable and substitutions are not permitted. 2027 entry transfers information
- Major status
- The first edition as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major is 23 May 2027. Finishers of the assessed 2026 race also receive a Major star. Major status information
Past races and results
Official results archiveOpen the organiser’s results to find a runner, club or published category standing. At festivals with several distances, select the marathon results.
2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Full 2026 resultsMohamed Esa won the men’s race in a course record, while Dera Dida Yami took the women’s title. David Weir and Manuela Schär won the wheelchair races. Cape Town also hosted the separate AbbottWMM age-group World Championships; those championship categories are identified below.
Men — elite
Mohamed Esa won in 2:04:55, a course record.
View result detailsWomen — elite
Dera Dida Yami won in 2:23:18.
View result detailsMen — wheelchair
David Weir won in a course-record 1:30:20.
View result detailsWomen — wheelchair
Manuela Schär won in a course-record 1:43:25.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 40–44
Jose Eraldo Lima won in 2:23:47.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 45–49
Naoki Matsuoka won in 2:30:19.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 50–54
Tom van Ongeval won in 2:29:44.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 55–59
Robert Ashby won in 2:38:57.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 60–64
Yuri Strofilov won in 2:45:53.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 65–69
Sergey Apenko won in 3:00:02.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 70–74
Andrew Kilback won in 3:09:07.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 75–79
Yoji Kawase won in 3:48:58.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Men 80+
John Fanshawe won in 4:08:28.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 40–44
Doris Maria Nagel-Wallimann won in 2:48:14.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 45–49
Véronique Leboeuf won in 2:52:43.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 50–54
Astrid Roberts won in 2:51:58.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 55–59
Elizabeth Potter won in 3:01:26.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 60–64
Yongson Basta won in 3:15:23.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 65–69
Tomoko Yamada won in 3:16:27.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 70–74
Andrea Simmons won in 3:41:52.
View result detailsWorld Championships — Women 75–79
Penny Jarvis won in 3:57:13.
View result details2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Full 2024 resultsGlenrose Xaba won on her marathon debut with a South African and course record of 2:22:22. Abdisa Tola Adera won the men’s race. Sho Watanabe and Michelle Wheeler took the wheelchair titles. The following year’s marathon was cancelled because of severe winds.
Men — overall
Abdisa Tola Adera leads the official results in 2:08:15.
View result detailsWomen — overall
Glenrose Xaba won in 2:22:22.
View result detailsMen — wheelchair
Sho Watanabe won in 1:37:33.
View result detailsWomen — wheelchair
Michelle Wheeler won in 2:03:22.
View result detailsRace news, photos and video
Common questions
When is Sanlam Cape Town Marathon?
Confirmed upcoming dates: 23 May 2027. Dates are local to the race.
How do I enter Sanlam Cape Town Marathon?
2027 general ballot — closed: The ballot ran from 10 to 24 June 2026. Successful applicants had a separate payment deadline; submitting a ballot application did not guarantee a place. Official international tour operators: Approved travel operators offer marathon packages with entry. Contact a listed operator for current allocations, package terms and availability. Official charity places: The organiser lists international charity partners offering entry packages. The separate charity allocation for South African residents is sold out. Existing priority and sponsored allocations: Candidacy Club priority selection has closed. Runners who previously selected a sponsored 2027 place following the 2025 cancellation should follow their organiser-issued redemption instructions.
Where is Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and how far is it?
Sanlam Cape Town Marathon takes place in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. This guide covers the 42.195 km full marathon (26.2 miles). Surface: Paved roads.
What is the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon course like?
The published 2026 route links Green Point and Sea Point with central Cape Town and the southern suburbs, including Rondebosch and Newlands. Check the organiser’s route page for the final 2027 layout. Predominantly flat city running with changes of gradient; coastal sections are exposed to the weather.
How big is the field at Sanlam Cape Town Marathon?
The approximate field is About 18,500, based on Reported finishers for 2026. Rounded from 18,512 full-marathon finishers listed by MarathonView, which cites SportSplits. This is one edition, not a multi-year average. Entrants, starters and finishers are different measures.
Where can I find past Sanlam Cape Town Marathon results?
The past races and results section links to the organiser’s results. Select the distance and edition for participant searches and published category standings.
Sources and race information
AthRecs is independent of the race organiser. This guide brings together the linked race information, results and reports. Source review: . Historical details are labelled by edition; current entry availability and final instructions remain with the organiser.
- Official race website
- 2027 entry and runner FAQs
- AbbottWMM Major announcement and date
- 2026 elite and wheelchair results
- 2026 age-group World Championships
- 2024 results
- 2024 timing results, including wheelchairs
- Organiser’s 2024 Xaba race report
- 2025 cancellation explanation
- 2026 full-marathon field estimate
More marathons in South Africa
Compare the route and scale of another race. Options in the same region appear first when available.
- Balwin Run Series Peninsula Marathon
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Predominantly flat point-to-point course, with start and finish well separated.
Next date: TBC
Approximate field: About 3,600 (Finishers, 2026)
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Net downhill and point-to-point. The World Athletics course list records a descent of 7.20 metres per kilometre and start-to-finish separation over 50%.
Next date: 27 Feb 2027
Approximate field: Unknown
- Sportsmans Warehouse Winelands Marathon
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Undulating winelands course; the provisional 2026 map lists approximately 398 metres of climbing.
Next date: 7 Nov 2026
Approximate field: About 1,600 (Finishers, 2025)
- African Bank Soweto Marathon
Soweto, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Challenging urban marathon; consult the next edition’s route information for the final layout.
Next date: TBC
Approximate field: About 2,300 (Finishers, 2025)