Candidacy Club – Updated Qualification Details

As the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon continues its journey toward becoming Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) event, we are updating our Candidacy Club information and outlining how the campaign will roll out following the cancellation of the 2025 race.

Guaranteed Access for Candidacy Year Finishers

We remain committed to rewarding the runners who have supported the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon throughout its Abbott World Marathon Majors candidacy journey. These are the runners who rallied around our race when we needed them most and helped us reach those all-important entry numbers.

Please note that the Candidacy Club years are 2022 to 2025. While eligibility is usually based on finishers, 2025 is an exception due to the cancellation of the event. All registered entrants for the 2025 race will receive one point toward their Candidacy Club total.

• International Runners: If you completed the 42.2km Sanlam Cape Town Marathon at least once during any of the candidacy years (2022, 2023, or 2024), or were entered for the 2025 event, you qualify for priority entry to one of the races in 2027, 2028, or 2029, should we become a Major.
  
• South African Runners: To qualify for priority entry into 2027, 2028 or 2029, should we become a Major,  you need two Candidacy Club points. You earn one point for each 42.2km Sanlam Cape Town Marathon you completed in 2022, 2023, or 2024, and one point if you were entered for the cancelled 2025 event.

Entries will once again be available on a first-come, first-served basis once Candidacy Club entries open. Further entry details and dates will be communicated closer to the 2027 event.

About the 2026 Event and Provisional AbbottWMM Star Status

Please note that the Candidacy Club preferential access does not yet apply to the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, as the event is still under AbbottWMM review. However, should the race successfully pass its next stage, runners who complete the 2026 marathon will receive a provisional Abbott World Marathon Majors star.

Read more about the provisional star here:  Provisional AbbottWMM Star Announcement

Sanlam Sponsored Entries and Candidacy Club

Following the cancellation of the 2025 event, Sanlam offered sponsored entries to all affected runners, providing a free preferential entry into either the 2026 or 2027 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. You can read more about this here.

Please note, however, that if you choose to use your Sanlam sponsored preferential entry for the 2027 race, it will also count as your Candidacy Club entry and will be recognised as your Major year participation.