The 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is more than just another race on the global athletics calendar, it is a defining moment for African sport. This year’s edition marks the marathon’s crucial “Evaluation Year,” a final step in its journey toward becoming the 8th Abbott World Marathon Major.
If successful, Cape Town will join an elite league of iconic races including the London, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York, Sydney, and Tokyo marathons. For Africa, it would be a historic achievement , the continent’s first marathon to earn World Marathon Major status.
A Landmark Year for African Running
The 2026 event is expected to attract more than 27,000 runners from across the globe, including 8,500 international participants representing 102 countries and over 25 African nations.
Adding to the excitement, every athlete who completes the race will receive a provisional Abbott World Marathon Major star. Once Cape Town officially secures Major status, those provisional stars will automatically convert into official stars, making this race a once-in-a-generation opportunity for runners worldwide.
Sanlam, the title sponsor of the marathon, has emphasized that this historic journey will remain inclusive, recognizing and prioritizing the runners who supported the event throughout its candidacy process.
For many sports enthusiasts and runners across the continent, the rise of the Cape Town Marathon symbolizes far more than elite competition. It represents African excellence, ambition, and the realization of a long-held dream to see an African marathon stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s most celebrated races.
“African Champions Unite” Campaign Inspires Continental Participation
In the spirit of unity and African pride, SanlamAllianz, Africa’s largest insurer operating across 25 countries, launched the “African Champions Unite” campaign, a continent-wide initiative designed to inspire participation and amplify the impact of African athletes.
In Kenya, SanlamAllianz partnered with running clubs and opened the challenge to everyone, from recreational runners to professional athletes. The campaign gave participants the chance to earn a fully sponsored trip to compete in the historic Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
The initiative highlighted SanlamAllianz’s commitment to community engagement and athlete development beyond traditional sponsorships.
Supporting Kenya’s Running Excellence
Speaking about the campaign, Sanlam Allianz Holdings (Kenya) PLC Group CEO Dr. Nyamemba Patrick Tumbo described the marathon as a celebration of unity, excellence, and African pride.
“At SanlamAllianz Kenya, we stand firmly beside our athletes at every stage of their journey,” said Dr. Tumbo. “Beyond sponsorships to professional elite runners, we designed the African Champions Unite Campaign to give back to our community by partnering with running clubs and inviting every Kenyan citizen to take part in the challenge, nurturing the dreams of Kenyan runners.”
SanlamAllianz Kenya has sponsored seven elite runners set to represent Kenya in Cape Town:
- Japheth Kiplagat
- James Munga
- Fridah Chepkite Lodepa
- Josephat Kipkoech
- Dixon Marende
- Meshack Shivina
- Emily Chepkor
The campaign ran from April 20 to May 10, 2026, and was tracked through Strava, encouraging runners nationwide to participate for the chance to win a complete marathon experience.
Winners received a fully sponsored package that included:
- Return flights to Cape Town
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation
- Marathon entry
- Travel insurance
- Food and beverages
- Official Sanlam Cape Town Marathon race kit
Most importantly, participants earned the opportunity to represent Kenya at one of the most important moments in African sporting history.
Increased Prize Purse Reflects Growing Prestige
As the marathon continues to grow in stature, the 2026 edition will also feature a significantly increased prize purse. Winners of the race will compete for a first-place prize of USD 35,000, up from USD 25,000 in 2025.
The increased investment underscores SanlamAllianz’s broader vision of creating transformative opportunities across Africa while showcasing the continent’s talent, resilience, and excellence on the world stage.
A Historic Opportunity for Africa
As runners prepare to line up beneath the shadow of Table Mountain, the eyes of the world will be on Cape Town. And if the marathon secures Abbott World Marathon Major status, it will mark a groundbreaking milestone not just for South Africa, but for the entire African continent.
Africa’s marathon moment may finally have arrived.