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Cape Town Marathon 2027: Race Guide, Course And How To Enter
The Cape Town Marathon enters a new era in 2027. On Sunday 23 May, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will stage its first race as an Abbott World Marathon Major, becoming the eighth marathon in the series and the first Major on the African continent.
Cape Town already had plenty to recommend it before achieving Major status. Table Mountain dominates the skyline, the Atlantic Ocean is never far away and the race gives runners the opportunity to combine a marathon with a longer trip to one of the world's great destination cities.
For runners hoping to take part in 2027, planning is particularly important. The general ballot has already taken place, but charity entries and places through official international tour operators provide alternative routes into the race.
The Destination
Cape Town is a destination where it makes sense to allow considerably more time than simply race weekend. The city sits between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, combining beaches, mountains, history, restaurants and outdoor activities within a relatively compact area.
The V&A Waterfront is one of the main visitor areas, with hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions clustered around the harbour. From here you can visit Robben Island, while Table Mountain, Cape Point and the Cape Winelands provide obvious additions if you have several days available.
Try not to fill every day before the marathon with sightseeing. Table Mountain and Cape Town's coastline are difficult to resist, but long periods walking and standing can leave your legs more tired than expected. Save some of the bigger excursions until after you have finished the race.
History Of The Cape Town Marathon
The Cape Town Marathon dates back to 1994 and has developed considerably over the decades that followed. It hosted the South African Marathon Championships for the first time in 1996 and subsequently established itself as one of the leading road races on the African continent.
Its international profile continued to grow, with the race achieving IAAF Silver Label status in 2014 and becoming the first African marathon to receive IAAF Gold Label status in 2017. Another major step followed in 2021 when Cape Town was announced as an Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate race.
The planned final assessment in 2025 could not take place after severe weather forced the marathon to be cancelled on race morning. Cape Town returned successfully in May 2026 and completed the assessment required to join the series.
On 10 June 2026, Abbott World Marathon Majors confirmed that Cape Town had passed its assessment and would become its eighth member. The 2027 race will therefore be the first Cape Town Marathon staged as a full Abbott World Marathon Major.
Runners who finished the 2026 Cape Town Marathon received a provisional AbbottWMM star, which became a full Cape Town star when the race's Major status was confirmed.
When Is The Cape Town Marathon 2027?
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon takes place on Sunday 23 May 2027. The wider running weekend runs across 22 and 23 May, with the 5K and 10K Peace Runs and trail events taking place on the Saturday before the marathon.
The move to May is particularly relevant if you have previously associated Cape Town with an October marathon. May is autumn in South Africa, so check the forecast as race weekend approaches rather than assuming the conditions you might expect from a European or North American May marathon.
Cape Town Marathon Expo And Race Pack Collection
The 2027 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Expo and registration will be held at DHL Stadium from Thursday 20 May to Saturday 22 May. Registration is scheduled from 9am to 7pm on Thursday, 9am to 7.30pm on Friday and 9am to 2pm on Saturday.
The expo includes running brands, official marathon merchandise, food and other exhibitors. Check your final participant information before travelling so that you know exactly what identification and documentation you need for collection.
Race Morning
The 2027 marathon will use two start areas around Green Point and Mouille Point. The Stadium start is on Fritz Sonnenberg Road beside DHL Stadium, while the Beach Road start is on Beach Road in Mouille Point. Your seeding information will tell you which start you have been allocated.
Start times for 2027 have not yet been confirmed. Once your wave, start and access information have been issued, work backwards to decide when you need to leave your accommodation. A Major with thousands of runners involves queues, walking and waiting before you actually begin running, so allow considerably more time than the journey itself requires.
Cape Town Marathon Course
The final Cape Town Marathon 2027 course has not yet been confirmed, so runners should not assume that every road and kilometre point will remain unchanged. The 2026 route does, however, give a good indication of the character of the marathon and the different challenges runners may encounter.
The 2026 course started around Green Point and Mouille Point before heading away from the Atlantic coast towards Cape Town's southern suburbs. Runners travelled through areas including Rondebosch, Newlands and Claremont before turning back through Salt River and Woodstock towards central Cape Town. The closing stages passed through Company's Garden and Long Street before returning to Green Point and heading out along the Sea Point coastline.
It creates a marathon of very different sections. There is an elevated highway, leafy southern suburbs, views towards Devil's Peak, historic central Cape Town, the most significant climb of the race after 30km and a long coastal section when runners are already approaching the end of the marathon.
The Two Starts
The 2026 marathon used two start areas close to DHL Stadium. The Stadium Start was on Fritz Sonnenberg Road in Green Point, while the Beach Road Start was in Mouille Point.
Five start waves were divided between the two locations, with runners further separated into seeded batches. The system was introduced to reduce congestion and pressure at pinch points, particularly during the first 10km of the marathon. For 2027, check your final race instructions carefully rather than simply following other runners towards the start. Your assigned start, wave and access route will be important information on race morning.
The Highway
At approximately 6.5km, the 2026 course took runners along the highway near the N2 off-ramp. It is one of the more unusual sections of the Cape Town Marathon and gives spectators on the pedestrian bridge above a striking view of thousands of runners moving along the road below. The early kilometres are still a time for restraint. The excitement of the start, fresh legs and large groups of runners moving together can make your intended marathon pace feel unusually easy. Allow the race to settle before deciding whether you need to make any adjustments.
Rondebosch And The Southern Suburbs
The 2026 route reached Rondebosch at approximately 15 to 17km. The surroundings become greener as runners move through Cape Town's southern suburbs, providing a noticeable contrast with the roads encountered earlier in the marathon. Rondebosch Park at 17.2km was one of the main spectator areas in 2026, with organised entertainment adding to the local support. This is also a useful point to assess how your race is developing. You are far enough into the marathon for your effort to have settled, but still have most of the distance ahead. The route through this part of Cape Town also takes runners through areas around Newlands and Claremont before reaching one of the most distinctive sections of the course.
Rondebosch Common
Between approximately 20 and 22km, the 2026 course looped around Rondebosch Common. The protected open space provides a striking contrast with the surrounding suburbs, with Devil's Peak forming the backdrop behind the runners. The halfway point falls within this part of the marathon. The second half contains some of the course's most demanding sections, including the major climb through Company's Garden. Rondebosch Common is also particularly good for spectators because the shape of the route provides several vantage points without requiring them to travel far.
Salt River And Woodstock
At approximately 26.7km, runners reached Salt River Circle before continuing into Woodstock between roughly 27 and 29km. This part of the course begins the transition from the southern suburbs back towards central Cape Town. Woodstock has its own distinctive character, with the route passing along Albert Road and close to landmarks including the Old Biscuit Mill and Woodstock Exchange. The 2026 event also featured music and entertainment through this section. This can be an important stage psychologically. The halfway point is well behind you and central Cape Town is getting closer, but there is still a considerable amount of running ahead. Keeping on top of your fuelling here could prove valuable when the course begins climbing after 30km.
Darling Street
At around 30km, the 2026 route reached Darling Street and some of the most historically significant surroundings of the marathon. Runners passed the Castle of Good Hope, the Grand Parade and Cape Town City Hall. It was from the balcony of City Hall that Nelson Mandela addressed a huge crowd following his release from prison in February 1990, and his statue now stands outside the building. This section provides a particularly strong sense of running through Cape Town rather than simply around it. It also marks the beginning of a more demanding part of the course.
Company's Garden
Between approximately 30.7 and 32.1km, runners entered the Company's Garden section. The organiser describes this as containing the longest and steepest climb of the marathon, and its position after 30km makes the gradient particularly significant. Company's Garden is one of Cape Town's most historic green spaces, with mature trees providing a very different environment from the surrounding city streets. The shade can be welcome, but runners chasing a time should pay more attention to their effort than to maintaining an exact pace as the road climbs. Trying to force your target pace uphill this late in a marathon can use energy you will need during the final 10km. Allowing the pace to slow while maintaining a controlled effort may be the more effective approach.
Long Street
After climbing through the Company's Garden section, the 2026 route reached Long Street between approximately 32.1 and 33.3km. This time the gradient works in the runner's favour. Long Street provides a long, straight downhill section and was also one of the livelier spectator areas on the 2026 course. Tired legs can respond differently to downhill running after more than 30km, so avoid suddenly forcing the pace simply because the road begins to descend. Let the gradient help you while remaining in control.
Green Point
The course returned to Green Point Main Road at approximately 34km. Familiar surroundings and the proximity of the finish area can make it feel as though the marathon is almost complete, but one of Cape Town's most distinctive challenges still remains. Instead of heading directly towards the finish, runners continue towards Sea Point and the Atlantic coastline. Knowing that this section is coming can make an important psychological difference, particularly when you are already well beyond 20 miles.
Sea Point And The Loop Of Death
From approximately 36.3km to 41.4km, the 2026 course followed Beach Road and the Sea Point coastline. The organiser itself refers to this section by its local nickname, the "Loop of Death". The name is delivered with a sense of humour, but it reflects the challenge of its position. With the finish relatively close, runners head away from it along the coast before turning back towards Green Point. At this stage of a marathon, those kilometres can feel considerably longer than they would earlier in the race. It is also one of the most spectacular sections. The Atlantic Ocean provides the backdrop and the out and back nature of the route allows supporters to see runners travelling in both directions. Conditions could make a difference here. An exposed coastal section late in the marathon may feel very different depending on the wind, so maintaining a controlled effort rather than becoming fixated on your kilometre splits can be useful.
The Finish At Green Point
After completing the Sea Point loop, runners finally turn back towards Green Point. The 2026 finish was on Vlei Road, where the blue finish carpet brought runners to the end of 42.2km.
The 2026 marathon had an overall cut off of six and a half hours, with ten intermediate cut off points positioned around the route. Runners expecting to be towards the back of the field should check the 2027 cut off arrangements when they are published rather than considering only the final finishing time. The finish will carry additional significance in 2027. It will be the first Cape Town Marathon staged as a full Abbott World Marathon Major and the first edition in which runners arrive knowing from the start that they are completing Africa's first Major.
How Difficult Is The Cape Town Marathon Course?
Cape Town should not be judged simply by its overall elevation. Where the harder sections occur is just as important as the total amount of climbing.
On the 2026 route, the longest and steepest climb came through Company's Garden between approximately 30.7 and 32.1km. It was followed almost immediately by the downhill along Long Street, before runners returned through Green Point and faced more than 5km around the Sea Point coastal loop.
Wind can also influence the difficulty. The closing coastal kilometres are exposed to the Atlantic, so conditions on race day could make this part of the course easier or harder than the elevation profile alone suggests.
That makes Cape Town a marathon where effort based pacing can be useful. Rather than forcing the same pace uphill, downhill and potentially into a coastal wind, allowing your pace to change while keeping your effort controlled could help preserve energy for the final kilometres.
The 2027 route may change, so wait for the official map and elevation profile before developing a precise race plan. If it retains the character of the 2026 course, however, including hills, controlled downhill running and some long runs over varied terrain in your preparation would make sense.
What Makes The Cape Town Marathon Special?
Cape Town brings something genuinely different to the Abbott World Marathon Majors. It joins Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York, while becoming the first race in Africa to achieve Major status.
The setting is a major part of its appeal. Few big city marathons can combine an internationally recognised city with an iconic mountain and the Atlantic coastline within the same race weekend.
Its arrival as a Major also makes 2027 a historic edition. Anyone taking part will be running in the first Cape Town Marathon staged as a full member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Cape Town also changes the challenge for runners collecting Major stars. AbbottWMM continues to recognise the traditional Six Star journey, while Cape Town and Sydney can count towards the expanded series. There is currently no Eight Star Medal, with AbbottWMM planning its next new completion medal when another candidate race successfully joins the series.
Is The Cape Town Marathon A Fast Course?
Cape Town can produce quick running. The 2026 race produced new men's and wheelchair course records, demonstrating that fast performances are possible when conditions are favourable.
That does not mean every runner should approach Cape Town as they would a particularly flat marathon. Gradient, wind, temperature and congestion can all influence your race, while the final 2027 course should be studied before setting a precise target.
A sensible approach is to train to maintain an even effort rather than becoming completely dependent on hitting the same pace on every kilometre. That gives you more flexibility if the course or weather demands it.
Is The Cape Town Marathon Good For First Time Runners?
Cape Town could make an unforgettable first marathon for someone who has prepared properly for the distance. Major status brings the scale and atmosphere of an international event, while the destination gives runners plenty to look forward to beyond their finishing time.
A first marathon here will require careful organisation, particularly if you are travelling internationally. Accommodation, flights, expo registration and getting to the correct start all need to be considered alongside your training.
The marathon distance itself remains the biggest challenge. Give yourself enough time to prepare, practise your fuelling during long runs and arrive in Cape Town early enough to recover from your journey before race day.
How To Enter The Cape Town Marathon 2027
The general ballot for the 2027 Cape Town Marathon opened on 10 June 2026 and closed on 24 June. Successful and unsuccessful applicants were notified on 26 June, so the general ballot is no longer an entry option for the 2027 race.
There were also separate arrangements for runners eligible for the Candidacy Club and for runners who had sponsored entries following the cancellation of the 2025 marathon. These were not part of the normal general ballot process.
If you missed the ballot, there are still other routes worth investigating. International Tour Operator and charity entries opened on 26 June 2026 on a first come, first served basis. Check the official marathon website for current availability rather than assuming that places remain.
Official international tour operators can be particularly useful for runners travelling from overseas because packages may combine a race place with accommodation and other travel arrangements. Check exactly what is included and the cancellation conditions before booking.
All 2027 entries are non transferable and substitutions are not permitted. The organiser says a deferral window will open closer to race day for eligible runners who can no longer participate, allowing qualifying entries to be deferred to 2028. Sponsored 2027 marathon entries cannot be transferred, substituted or deferred.
Never buy a race number privately from another runner. Running using someone else's bib is prohibited by the organiser.
Running The Cape Town Marathon For Charity
Charity entry is particularly relevant for 2027 because the general ballot has already closed. Official charity entries opened on 26 June 2026, providing another potential route into the marathon while giving runners the opportunity to use their Major experience to raise money for a cause.
Check current availability directly through the official Cape Town Marathon charity programme and understand the fundraising commitment before accepting a place. Find out how much you need to raise, when the target must be reached and what happens if injury or another problem prevents you from running.
If you already have your own Cape Town place, you can still choose to fundraise independently for a charity that matters to you.
Where To Stay
Cape Town offers plenty of options for combining the marathon with a longer trip. The City Bowl is a convenient base with restaurants, attractions and transport nearby, while the V&A Waterfront has a large choice of hotels and puts you close to one of Cape Town's most popular visitor areas. Sea Point is another option if you would prefer to stay closer to the coast.
With Cape Town joining the Abbott World Marathon Majors, international interest in the race is likely to increase. If you are travelling from overseas, booking accommodation early is sensible, particularly if you plan to extend your stay and explore more of Cape Town and the surrounding region after the marathon.
Our Verdict
The Cape Town Marathon was already one of the most distinctive destination marathons in the world. Becoming Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Major gives the race even greater international significance.
The first Major edition on 23 May 2027 combines a historic moment for marathon running with a destination offering mountains, coastline, culture and plenty to explore beyond race day. The general ballot has finished, so anyone still hoping to run in 2027 should investigate current charity and official international tour operator availability rather than waiting for general entry to reopen.
For runners who do secure a place, Cape Town offers something no other race in the series can replicate: the opportunity to run an Abbott World Marathon Major on the African continent.
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