Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 2027 ballot: undefined
The 2027 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is the race's first as a confirmed Abbott World Marathon Major, Africa's first Major, and its 2027 ballot draw landed on 26 June 2026.
What made 2027 notable
This is the edition that turns Cape Town's provisional star into a real one. On 10 June 2026, after the 2026 race completed the second and final stage of its candidacy evaluation, AbbottWMM confirmed Cape Town as the eighth Major and Africa's first, formally joining the series at the 23 May 2027 race. The 2027 ballot opened the same day, ran to 24 June through the Howler platform on a non-refundable R5 fee, and all applicants learned the draw outcome on 26 June. The organisers published no application count, no field cap, and no acceptance rate. Two-thirds of entries stay reserved for African runners, a deliberate guard against a London-scale rush from overseas Six Star chasers.
Questions about the 2027 ballot
When did the 2027 Cape Town Marathon ballot run?
Open 10 June to 24 June 2026 through the official Howler platform, with a non-refundable R5 application fee. All applicants were notified of the draw outcome on 26 June 2026, and successful entries were charged automatically the same day.
How many applied for the 2027 Cape Town ballot?
The organisers have not published an application count, ballot places awarded, a field cap, or an acceptance rate for the 2027 ballot. Cape Town has never published ballot odds.
Why are two-thirds of entries reserved for African runners?
The organisers committed to keeping two-thirds of race entries available to African participants, protecting access for the continent's runners rather than opening the field on the same basis as a Major like London.
What makes the 2027 edition historic?
On 10 June 2026 AbbottWMM confirmed Cape Town as the eighth Abbott World Marathon Major and Africa's first, after the 2026 race passed the second and final stage of its candidacy evaluation. The 23 May 2027 race is Cape Town's first as a full Major.