Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Candidacy Club – Updated Qualification Details
In the context of the ongoing efforts by the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon to become the first Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) race on the African continent, organizers have presented revised participation requirements for the Candidacy Club program. The new rules specify in detail how the program will be implemented following the cancellation of the 2025 race.
Guaranteed Access for Candidacy Year Finishers (2022–2025)
The Candidacy Club was created to honor runners who supported the marathon during its candidacy phase (2022-2025). Due to the cancellation of the 2025 edition, all runners who were registered for that race automatically receive one Candidacy Club point, which is an exception to the usual completion requirement rule.
| Runner Group | Qualification Requirements (Years 2022-2025) | Priority Entry Access |
|---|---|---|
| International Runners |
|
Priority entry to one of the marathons in 2027, 2028, or 2029 (contingent on Majors status confirmation). |
| South African Runners |
|
Priority entry to one of the marathons in 2027, 2028, or 2029 (contingent on Majors status confirmation). |
Important Information: Preferential Candidacy Club entries will be made available on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Detailed information on procedures and registration opening dates will be announced closer to the 2027 event.
The 2026 Marathon and Provisional AbbottWMM Star Status
It must be noted that the Candidacy Club priority access privileges do not apply to the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, as the event is still undergoing review by AbbottWMM. Majors status has not yet been officially granted for this edition. However, should the marathon successfully pass its next verification stage, runners who complete the 2026 race will receive a provisional Abbott World Marathon Majors star, which will count towards the Six/Seven Star Finisher total if the race ultimately obtains full Majors status.
Sanlam Sponsored Entry and Candidacy Club Usage
Following the cancellation of the 2025 edition, Sanlam offered all affected runners the option of a preferential entry (Sanlam Sponsored Entry) for the 2026 or 2027 marathon, waiving the standard race fee.
An important rule concerns the future use of this option: if a participant chooses to use their preferential Sanlam entry for the 2027 race, this will simultaneously be treated as their single qualifying participation under the Candidacy Club in the “Major year”. Essentially, this utilizes their guaranteed access slot.
Related Information about the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
Source: Cape Town Marathon
