Eliud Kipchoge Leads Cape Town Marathon 2026 Elite Field
The cape town marathon 2026 will feature Eliud Kipchoge on Sunday 24 May. Organisers say the race has assembled the strongest elite field ever seen for a marathon on the African continent.
The event is expected to draw 27 000 runners in the main race, with 8 500 international participants from 145 countries. Clark Gardner said the lineup includes seven World Athletics Platinum Label athletes and 13 Gold Label athletes.
Kipchoge backs Cape Town
Kipchoge framed his place in the field around the continent and Cape Town’s bid for major status. “They say North, South, East or West, home is best… Cape Town is in Africa, and I belong to the African continent. This is my home, this is my soil, and I am a child of Africa,” he said.
He also tied his entry to that broader push. “That’s a big reason that I am here, to show my support for Cape Town to become a Major marathon next year,” he said. Kipchoge added that the running culture in South Africa stood out to him, saying he sees people out running at 6 o’clock in the morning and again in the evening.
Gardner on the field
Gardner described the 2026 race as the fastest and best field ever to start a marathon on the African continent. He said, “Today, we’re thrilled to welcome an elite field for 2026 with seven World Athletics Platinum Label and 13 Gold Label athletes, including the greatest ever marathon runner, Eliud Kipchoge, as well many of the best runners in the world.”
He added, “This is certainly the fastest and best field to ever start a marathon on the African continent, and allows us to honour the great performances of these elites over many years all around the world.”
The size of the entry list gives the race a different scale from a standard elite-only marathon. Around 32% of entrants will be racing for the first time, and 17 500 athletes already took part on Saturday 23 May in the 10km and 5km Peace Runs, the Cape Town Trail Marathon and trail runs.
Green Point precinct
All events start and finish in the Green Point precinct near the DHL Stadium, placing the marathon at the center of a broader race weekend rather than a single road event. The main marathon remains the focal point, but the field strength and turnout point to a larger goal.
The race is still bidding to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Majors event, and the lineup in Cape Town gives that campaign its clearest sporting argument yet. Edna Kiplagat, 46, said, “I’m so grateful to be part of the elite race here in Cape Town. It is a great milestone that you have all worked to achieve, and I believe we are going to have a great race on Sunday.”
