In a landmark announcement that reshapes the global landscape of elite long-distance running, the Abbott World Marathon Majors series confirmed Wednesday that Cape Town Marathon has joined its prestigious roster, marking the first African-hosted race to earn a spot in the sport’s most exclusive circuit.
Cape Town now takes its place alongside seven of the most iconic marathons on the planet: London, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, Sydney, and Tokyo. The addition brings a distinctly African cultural and geographic identity to the elite series, which has long been centered in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Dawna Stone, chief executive of Abbott World Marathon Majors, emphasized the transformative impact of the inclusion, noting that Cape Town’s one-of-a-kind cultural heritage, warm community hospitality, and breathtaking natural setting will add an entirely new dimension to the elite circuit. “I know runners in Africa and across the world will have a phenomenal experience at this race,” Stone added.
The Cape Town Marathon has already built a reputation for attracting world-class elite competition. This year’s May edition, for example, drew 41-year-old double Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge, who made his first-ever marathon start on African soil, finishing 16th with a time of 2:13:29. The race was ultimately won by Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa, who set a new course record of 2:04:55 — the fastest marathon time ever recorded across the African continent. Esa’s compatriot Yihunilign Adane took second place just four seconds behind at 2:04:59, while Kenya’s Kalipus Lomwai rounded out the podium in 2:05:06. All three top finishers ran new personal best times in the event.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis celebrated the Majors inclusion as the payoff for years of coordinated effort to grow the race and meet the series’ strict standards. “It follows many years of hard work to secure inclusion in the Majors,” he said of the milestone decision.
Beyond its impact on global running, organizers project that the new Major status will deliver a substantial economic boost to the Cape Town region, with an estimated $49 million in additional visitor spending on travel, accommodation, and dining expected to flow into the local economy.
Looking ahead, the first edition of the Cape Town Marathon as an official World Major is scheduled for May 23, 2027. It is worth noting that the 2025 edition of the race was ultimately canceled over safety concerns, after unseasonably high winds created unsafe conditions for competing runners.