Sponsored entries for 2026/2027 & Abbott World Marathon Major status. News on Sanlam Cape Town Marathon cancellation

After infrastructure damaged by strong overnight winds forced the cancellation of the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, the race's title sponsor has moved quickly to quell the growing calls of disappointment from the 24 000 runners that were left stranded by offering every 2025 marathon entrant a sponsored entry for either May 2026 or 2027. This offer will be extended to all 2025 marathon entrants, regardless of whether the race succeeds in its bid to become Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Majors event or not.

"When faced with adversity, Africans unite. We find a way to create opportunity out of adversity, in spite of all obstacles and challenges," says the Sanlam Group CEO, Paul Hanratty. "We remain confident that the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is on course to become an Abbott World Marathon Majors race. Following the disappointment felt by the marathon runners today, we feel that we need to support all of those who were not able to take part in the race."

Runners who had entered to tackle the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will receive a sponsored entry for the 2026 or 2027 race. Photo Credit: Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

Yet many entrants remain dissatisfied with the race's cancellation, arguing that the winds had subsided by the time they started to line up at the two start lines in Green Point around 5am this morning (19 October). Some including prominent coaches such as John Hamlett and club bosses like the Nedbank Running Club's Nick Bester question why no allowance was made for a paired down version of the race to continue after a delayed start.

Organisers point out that the race which is bidding to become Africa's first major alongside such races as the London, New York and Tokyo Marathons, was not cancelled because of adverse weather conditions prevalent at the start, but rather because the strong overnight winds had damaged race infrastructure such as tents, scaffolding, refreshment tables, fence barriers and branding. This forced the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) comprising of the South African Police Services, City of Cape Town officials and the organising team to either pull the plug on the event or risk runners being injured by damaged infrastructure along the route or at the finish line.

Speaking on behalf of the JOC shortly after the decision to cancel, Colonel Christo Engelbrecht of the SAPS said, "The route is unsafe, as the wind is constantly gusting in Woodstock, and the infrastructure at the start and finish venue has been compromised. It's unsafe for runners and pedestrians in that whole area, and that's why the race has had to be cancelled. It was a collective decision made by the whole team in the Joint Operations Committee."

"We had planned for every situation that we could control. We could not control the wind. The gusts started t about 1am this morning," said Sanlam Cape Town Marathon CEO clark Gardener. "So we had to protect our participants, our volunteers and our staff by calling off this race. Ultimately a bigger force had the final say, and we are so sorry for the situation. We wish to thank our participants, sponsors and stakeholders for their ongoing support and understanding."

One of those key stakeholders who have come out in support of the decision was the head of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Dawna Stone who had been in The Mother City to evaluate the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon's bid to be the latest member of the World Marathon Majors following their unconditional pass from stage one to stage two last year. "We were excited to see all the progress that the team in Cape Town had made this year after passing their evaluation in 2024. Our hearts go out to the organisers, volunteers and participants who wanted to make this a historic day, and appreciate a difficult decision this must have been."