Run Cape Town 2026
May 24, 2026
The Finish Strong Foundation is an Official Charity Partner of the 2026 Cape Town Marathon!
All 2026 finishers will receive a provisional Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) star if Cape Town Marathon is officially added an AWMM. These stars will be retroactively awarded to runners.
Important notes:
AWMM Star Clarification: The AWMM website confirms that only the original six races currently count toward the 6-star medal. New majors like Sydney and Cape Town may offer an additional 7th and 8th star, but not a 7/8/9-star medal yet, until the new nine proposed events are all confirmed as AWMMs. Cape Town 2026 runners can still earn a provisional 8th star.
Be Among the First: Runners aiming to achieve their stars at the earliest opportunity at each AWMM event and hopefully secure a 9-star medal, will be among the first in history to earn a provisional 8th star by completing Cape Town Marathon in 2026.
Date Change of Marathon: The date move to May offers more stable weather and less wind, and to top it all off, Cape Town is a stunning destination. Feedback from 2025 runners via Marathon Tours & Travel has been overwhelmingly positive with many saying they’d return in a heartbeat.
2026 Offers Better Value: If Cape Town becomes an official AWMM in 2027, travel and entry costs are expected to rise. 2026 offers very good value with lower travel costs and locked-in charity entry prices. 2026 charity entry costs and allocations will not change and are locked in, so you can plan around this.
Candidacy Rewards: Historically, runners who supported candidate AWMM events during their assessment period were rewarded with priority entry once the race became a major. Cape Town Marathon runners in 2026 will receive a provisional star as recognition which is a fantastic selling point.
Pre-AWMM Stars Still Count: Runners who completed Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon before AWMMs began in 2006 all received a retrospective star. Runners also have stars from finishing Tokyo Marathon between 2007-2013 before Tokyo became a major and from Sydney Marathon 2024 in the Age Group World Championships.
Runners will raise funds to help inspire and empower youth across New England and beyond to increase physical activity, expand literacy, and build community and self-esteem through running, reading, and performing acts of kindness.
Our vision is rooted in a belief that discovering a passion for physical activity, reading, and acts of kindness at a young age gives individuals self-confidence and self-respect, which empowers them to move forward—one step at a time.
If you are interested in applying, you must be able to meet the following criteria:
Commit to raising $2,500 USD
Why join Team Finish Strong:
Entry into the 2026 Cape Town Marathon
Runners will receive professional fundraising and training support
Team marathon gear.
Boundless team spirit, team organization and runner support
A fun and positive life changing experience of running the 2026 Cape Town Marathon with Team Finish Strong