Cape Town Marathon is the 8^th Abbott World Marathon Major

A new marathon just joined the Abbott World Marathon Majors: the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in South Africa.

It becomes the eighth race in the Abbott-sponsored series of the world’s largest and most renowned marathons. Scheduled for May 23, 2027, Cape Town will also make history as the first major on the African continent. Keep an eye on AWMM’s website for more official details on next year’s race.

Which races are Abbott World Marathon Majors?

A successful race weekend in May officially completed Cape Town’s second year of candidacy and cemented its place in the majors. The series now includes:

• The Tokyo Marathon
• Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America
• TCS London Marathon
• Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
• TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS
• BMW Berlin Marathon
• Bank of America Chicago Marathon
• TCS New York City Marathon

Which race could join as the ninth major?

The series ultimately plans to expand to nine races from the original six. The Shanghai Marathon, scheduled for December, is in its third year of candidacy and passed its evaluation in 2025.

Should Shanghai pass its 2026 evaluation, runners will have the opportunity to chase down a new milestone, a Nine Star medal, potentially as soon as 2027. (The Six Star medal, which runners will still be able to earn, has long been a symbol of completing the six original races in the series.)

AWMM announced that runners who completed the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon have received a provisional star for the race that will, in the coming weeks, count toward their Nine Star medal.

Why does Abbott sponsor the majors?

“For years, we have seen firsthand how running inspires people around the world to prioritize their health and well-being and achieve their full potential,” said Melissa Brotz, chief marketing and communications officer at Abbott. “We welcome the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and a new continent to the series.”

As the title sponsor of these races for more than a decade, we’re proud that they showcase the power of health and the triumph of the human spirit. It’s why we recently formed Team Abbott, a community of runners who have persevered in the face of health challenges to cross marathon finish lines all over the world.

Learn more about Abbott’s commitment and explore Team Abbott on our Marathons page.