The Cape Town Marathon on Wednesday was confirmed as the eighth and the first Abbott World Marathon Major (AbbottWMM) to be held on African soil.
The event has successfully completed the second and final stage of its Abbott World Marathon Majors evaluation, earning its spot as the eighth member of this highly prestigious marathon series worldwide.
The decision comes after the latest edition, held on 24 May in Cape Town. The marathon will formally enter the series at its next edition on 23 May 2027.
Following the confirmation, AbbottWMM CEO Dawna Stone welcomed Cape Town’s inclusion in the series, describing it as a significant addition that would bring a new dimension to the competition.
“It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family,” she said.
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“After watching the race grow in size and stature during its candidacy, and also seeing the resilience and dedication of the team led 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.” she added.
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It is worth mentioning that Cape Town Marathon’s elevation to a Major event is expected to bring significant economic activity to Cape Town and the surrounding region.
Organizers project that the event will contribute around 800 million rand to the local economy, driven by spending on domestic travel, accommodation, and food.
The addition of Cape Town also places it among a select group of races shaping the next phase of the series. With eight Majors now confirmed, attention is turning to whether and when a ninth Major could complete the series, alongside the existing Six Star and proposed Nine Star finisher medals.
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For those unaware, the World Marathon Majors are a series of the most prestigious races in the world. The term “Majors” refers to the individual elite marathons that are officially included in this global championship-style series.
These races bring together the world’s top long-distance runners, who compete across multiple events throughout the season to earn points and fight for the overall World Marathon Majors title.
At present, the Majors include iconic races such as the Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, Tokyo, and Sydney marathons.
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