The 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is moving closer to becoming an Abbott World Marathon Major, with this year’s edition expected to play a key role in determining whether the race joins the list of the world’s biggest marathons.
The marathon is currently in its “Evaluation Year”, meaning a successful event could see it officially recognised as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major.
This year’s race is expected to attract more than 27,000 runners, including 8,500 international participants from 102 countries and over 25 African nations.
All runners who complete the race will receive a provisional Abbott World Marathon Major star, which will later be upgraded to an official star if the marathon secures Major status.
For many African runners and sports fans, the event is seen as a major milestone, with hopes that an African marathon will soon stand alongside famous races such as London, Berlin, Boston and Tokyo.
As part of the build-up to the marathon, SanlamAllianz launched the “African Champions Unite” campaign, an initiative aimed at bringing together runners from across the continent and giving them an opportunity to compete on a bigger stage.
In Kenya, SanlamAllianz partnered with running clubs and invited both professional and recreational runners to take part in the challenge, with top performers earning full sponsorship to the Cape Town Marathon.
Sanlam Allianz Holdings (Kenya) PLC Group CEO Dr Nyamemba Patrick Tumbo said the initiative was meant to support and grow local talent while celebrating African excellence.
“The Cape Town Marathon represents unity, excellence and African pride. At SanlamAllianz Kenya, we are proud to stand with our athletes throughout their journey,” said Dr Tumbo.
“Beyond sponsoring elite runners, the African Champions Unite campaign was designed to engage the wider community by partnering with running clubs and giving Kenyan runners a chance to pursue their dreams,” he added.
The company sponsored seven Kenyan elite runners for the marathon. They include Japheth Kiplagat, James Munga, Fridah Chepkite Lodepa, Josephat Kipkoech, Dixon Marende, Meshack Shivina and Emily Chepkor.
The campaign ran from April 20 to May 10, 2026, and was monitored through the Strava fitness platform.
Winners received a fully sponsored trip to Cape Town, including flights, accommodation, airport transfers, marathon entry, travel insurance, meals and official race kits.
Organisers also announced that the winner of the 2026 marathon will receive a top prize of USD 35,000, up from USD 25,000 in 2025, reflecting the growing profile of the event.
