Sanlam Cape Town Marathon to host 2026 AbbottWMM MTT Age Group World Championships

• Championship set for debut on African continent
• Cape Town also pursuing Major status
• Race aiming for second successful evaluation in 2025

May 8, 2025

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will host the 2026 Abbott World Marathon Majors Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championships (AGWC) on May 24 next year.

The race is currently in the candidacy process to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors, having secured its first evaluation pass in 2024.

If Cape Town passes its 2025 evaluation, the Championship will be part of the race’s first year as a member of the AbbottWMM series, giving participants the chance to earn their Cape Town star as well as battle for Age Group World Champion status.

“Bringing the world’s fastest age group marathon athletes to a new continent is a significant and exciting step for the Championship and underlines the confidence we have in the Cape Town team as they progress in their candidacy,” said AbbottWMM CEO Dawna Stone. “We are hopeful that the 2026 Age Group World Championship will be one to remember as part of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s entry into the Abbott World Marathon Majors series.”

“Bringing the Age Group World Championships to African soil is a landmark moment – not just for Cape Town – but for the entire continent,” said Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. “We are so honoured to host this event which is a chance for Africa’s running greats and future stars to compete at the highest level, on home ground. We’re ready to rise to the occasion and deliver a world-class experience that showcases not only elite performance, but the spirit, beauty and hospitality of Africa.”

 “We are thrilled to welcome Age Group World Championship runners and their companions to join our Official Cape Town Marathon AGWC Experience Package. With over a decade of experience delivering exceptional service at this prestigious event, we’ve tailored our offering based on valuable feedback from runners and their supporters,” said Jeff Adams, President of Marathon Tours & Travel. “As the official tour operator for  AbbottWMM and a trusted partner of races worldwide—including the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon—our global team is uniquely equipped to support AGWC participants from across the globe and we are excited to offer an unforgettable South African experience in our third year as the AGWC sponsor.”

Qualifying for Cape Town is currently underway, with more than 300 races around the world supplying results to the Age Group World Rankings.

The qualification window for Cape Town will close on December 31, 2025. 

More information can be found here.

-Ends-

Further information:

World Marathon Majors: press@wmmajors.com

Sanlam Cape Town Marathon: media@capetownmarathon.com

FAQS

What is the Age Group World Championship?

The AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championship is an event for athletes ages 40+ who qualify from the Age Group World Rankings. It has been held each year since 2021 within the TCS London Marathon (2021, 2022), the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (2023) and the TCS Sydney Marathon (2024). It will be staged within the TCS New York City Marathon in November 2025. Athletes must be registered at worldmarathonmajors.com to claim their rankings results and be eligible for an invitation to the Championship event. Qualifying for this year’s championship is complete.

How do runners qualify?

There are three pathways to qualification for the 2026 championships

1. Achieve the qualifying time for your age group (View times here and search qualifying races in 2025 here.)
2. Finish high in your age group ranking at the end of the qualifying period
3. Run the Global Marathon virtual race through the AbbottWMM Global Run Club. There are 200 places available through this route. 

When do runners receive their invitations?

Registered runners who have already achieved the qualifying standard or qualified through the spring 2025 Global Marathon will be contacted shortly with entry information. Runners who achieve qualification through the remainder of 2025 will be contacted with entry information soon after their results are in the Age Group World Rankings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, VISIT HERE

About AbbottWMM

The Abbott World Marathon Majors series consists of seven of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world: the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, TCS London Marathon, TCS Sydney Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon.

AbbottWMM hosts a points competition across this series for elite open division and wheelchair athletes, as well as the Six Star program, which rewards any runner who finished all six with the Six Star Medal.

The Age Group World Rankings rewards athletes aged 40+ with the opportunity to compete against their peers for a place at the Age Group World Championship, and the Global Run Club provides a virtual running platform for the community to participate in challenges across a range of distances.

For more information visit worldmarathonmajors.com

About Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Africa’s only World Athletics Gold Label marathon, returns on Sunday, 19th October 2025. Celebrated for its scenic route through Cape Town’s iconic landmarks, the event showcases the city’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. In 2024, it reached a major milestone by passing Stage 1 of the Abbott World Marathon Majors evaluation. The 2025 edition aims to complete Stage 2 in its pursuit to become Africa’s first Major.

The marathon weekend includes the 10km and 5km Peace Runs, plus the 43km, 22km, and 11km Trail events on Saturday, 18th October, welcoming runners of all levels, whether on road or trail.

Looking ahead to 2026, the event shifts to Sunday, 24th May, and will proudly host the Age Group World Championships, further strengthening its status on the global running stage.

Backed by Sanlam, adidas, and the City of Cape Town, the marathon continues to attract elite athletes and passionate runners from across the world. 

For more information, visit www.capetownmarathon.com or follow @capetownmarathon on social media.

About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Youtube.

About Marathon Tours & Travel

Marathon Tours & Travel is a longstanding, recognized leader, and innovator in the sports travel industry for runners and their supporters. As the official tour operator for AbbottWMM and races worldwide, they provide specialized travel packages with guaranteed entries. With a global team dedicated to crafting unique and special trips for more than 46 years, Marathon Tours & Travel is the premier choice for running enthusiasts seeking the ultimate travel experience. View their packages here: https://marathontours.com/en-us/events/cape-town-marathon-agwc/