Entry for 2027
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, May 23, 2027. The Peace Run and trail runs are on Saturday, May 22 |
| Ballot | Closed on June 24, 2026; applicants heard on June 26 |
| Guaranteed entry | International Tour Operator and charity entries opened on June 26, 2026, first come, first served |
| Cut-off | 6.5 hours |
| Age | 18 or older on race day, under Athletics South Africa rules |
The course: two starts, finish on Vlei Road
The marathon has two starts, by the stadium on Fritz Sonnenberg Road and on Beach Road in Mouille Point; your seeding decides which one you use. All events finish on Vlei Road. In 2026 the course looped through the city centre and the southern suburbs and ran its last kilometers along the Atlantic in Sea Point. Late May is autumn in Cape Town, and the wind off the ocean matters more than the heat.
When to start training
Hal Higdon's 18-week plan for a first marathon starts onMonday, January 18, 2027. It assumes you already run four times a week. You can start earlier too: Pacero builds a plan from your current fitness to May 23, 2027.
Show the week-by-week plan
| Week | Starts | Weekday runs, km | Long run | Total, km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 18 | 4.8, 4.8, 4.8 | 9.7 km | 24.1 |
| 2 | January 25 | 4.8, 4.8, 4.8 | 11.3 km | 25.7 |
| 3cutback | February 1 | 4.8, 6.4, 4.8 | 8.1 km | 24.1 |
| 4 | February 8 | 4.8, 6.4, 4.8 | 14.5 km | 30.5 |
| 5 | February 15 | 4.8, 8.1, 4.8 | 16.1 km | 33.8 |
| 6cutback | February 22 | 4.8, 8.1, 4.8 | 11.3 km | 29 |
| 7 | March 1 | 4.8, 9.7, 4.8 | 19.3 km | 38.6 |
| 8 | March 8 | 4.8, 9.7, 4.8 | race: half marathon | 19.3 + race |
| 9 | March 15 | 4.8, 11.3, 6.4 | 16.1 km | 38.6 |
| 10 | March 22 | 4.8, 11.3, 6.4 | 24.1 km | 46.6 |
| 11 | March 29 | 6.4, 12.9, 6.4 | 25.7 km | 51.4 |
| 12cutback | April 5 | 6.4, 12.9, 8.1 | 19.3 km | 46.7 |
| 13 | April 12 | 6.4, 14.5, 8.1 | 29 km | 58 |
| 14cutback | April 19 | 8.1, 14.5, 8.1 | 22.5 km | 53.2 |
| 15longest | April 26 | 8.1, 16.1, 8.1 | 32.2 km | 64.5 |
| 16taper | May 3 | 8.1, 12.9, 6.4 | 19.3 km | 46.7 |
| 17taper | May 10 | 6.4, 9.7, 4.8 | 12.9 km | 33.8 |
| 18 | May 17 | 4.8, 6.4, 3.2 | race: marathon | 14.4 + race |
Train for the Cape Town Marathon on your own plan
The table above is a generic plan for a first marathon: it knows nothing about your fitness or your goal. Pacero builds your training from where you are today to race day, spreads the load across the weeks and updates the plan after your runs. Workouts from Apple Watch, Garmin and other watches come in through Apple Health; without a watch, record runs with GPS in the app, log them by hand or upload a screenshot.
The Cape Town Marathon is already in the app's race list: pick it in the questionnaire.
Train with Pacero →First 7 days free, no card needed.Quick answers
When is the Cape Town Marathon 2027?
Sunday, May 23, 2027, its first edition as a World Marathon Major.
Can I still enter?
The ballot closed on June 24, 2026. International Tour Operator and charity places are sold first come, first served.
What is the cut-off?
6.5 hours for the marathon.
Other races in 2027
Tokyo Marathon 2027
Lottery results, the ways in that remain, the course and March weather.
Boston Marathon 2027
Qualifying times, the 2027 cutoff and the new random draw, charity places.
London Marathon 2027
Two race days for 100,000 runners, ballot, Good for Age and charity places.
Sydney Marathon 2027
Ballot, entry fees, travel partner places and the Harbour Bridge course.
Berlin Marathon 2027
Lottery until November 12, 2026, fast runner standards, the record course.
Chicago Marathon 2027
Drawing until October 29, 2026, time qualifier standards and fees.
New York City Marathon 2027
Expected date, the drawing, guaranteed entry and the five-borough course.
Sources
- Sanlam Cape Town Marathon: Majors status, ballot and payment dates, 2026 course.
- Sanlam Cape Town Marathon: FAQ: date, starts and finish, cut-off, age, entry routes.
- Hal Higdon: Marathon Novice 1: the 18-week plan.