The 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was cancelled 90 minutes before the start of the race.
Severe overnight winds caused considerable damage to the start and finish areas which couldn’t be repaired in time, meaning it was unsafe for the race to go ahead.
“We had planned for every situation that we could control,” said Clark Gardner, CEO of the Cape Town Marathon, “but we could not control the wind.”
While the 24,000 runners will be incredibly disappointed by the news, on course safety is essential in a marathon.
It is unclear on details surrounding the race, including whether 2025 participants will be offered a refund or given entry into 2026’s race, which takes place on 24 May 2026. Race organisers are planning a way to allow 2025’s participants to still run and claim their medal, but that has not been announced yet. More details to come when we get it.
But The Wind Didn’t Stop The Runners
Thousands of runners – tapered, carb-loaded, awake from early alarm clocks, and even at the event village ahead of the start – still ran 42.2km in Cape Town.
Local run clubs organised new routes, and runners rallied together. Some went in large groups, others headed out to run their marathon in Cape Town in their own way.
Will The Cape Town Marathon Still Become A Major Marathon?
The 2025 Cape Town Marathon was set to have its second evaluation in its candidacy to become an Abbott World Marathon Major, and if it passed it would become a Marathon Major in 2026.
There’s been no official announcement on what this year’s cancellation means, but it seems likely that Cape Town’s promotion to the Majors will be delayed by a year. The earliest it will be a Major will be May 2027.
In a statement from AbbottWMM, they explained that their leadership will be working with the Cape Town team soon to obtain more information and discuss the next course of action.
The 2026 Cape Town Marathon is moving to May and it will be hosting the AbbottWMM Age Group World Championships. Participants had already been informed that if the race isn’t a Major in 2026 and they still complete the race, they will be given a star when Cape Town Marathon becomes a major.
FAQ on Cape Town Marathon
It is unlikely that Cape Town will be an Abbott World Marathon Major in 2026. It has passed its first assessment and now needs to pass its second assessment, which was due to take place at 2025’s race. The cancellation of that race will likely delay the race’s move to the Majors.
Yes, many runners chose to run their own marathon in the city after the 2025 Cape Town Marathon was cancelled due to severe wind and damage to the race village.
The 2025 Cape Town Marathon was cancelled 90 minutes before the start of the race due to severe overnight winds which damaged the race village.
