The streets of Cape Town were buzzing long before sunrise on Sunday morning, but by the time the final runners crossed the finish line, there was already a growing feeling that the city may have witnessed something far bigger than just another marathon.
After months of anticipation and the pressure of returning from last year's cancelled event , the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon delivered exactly the kind of performance organisers had hoped for, fast times, packed streets, international attention and a powerful reminder of why the race is now being seriously considered for Abbott World Marathon Majors status.
If approved, it would become Africa's first race to join the elite global marathon series alongside iconic events in cities like Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo, as per The Citizen .
