The action-packed Cape Town marathon weekend is set to kick off on Saturday with a series of shorter distance events, forming part of a festival weekend of running.
On Sunday, the marathon action begins with the inspirational Peace Flame Ceremony at 7:20am, followed by the Wheelchair Invitational race at 7:50am, and then the Elite start at 8am.
The prize purse for the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has seen a significant increase, with the top 10 men and women, plus main race age group podium finishers, sharing a total of R3,598,000 – a 40% rise from last year’s R2,578,000.
Prize Money for the Winners
The first prize has been increased to $35,000 (approximately R595,000), up from $25,000 in 2025. The second place winner will now receive $20,000, and the third place winner will get $15,000. The top 10 men and women, as well as the top five male and female wheelchair athletes, will be paid in US Dollars, following the standard practice in AbbottWMM events.
Notable Prize Money Increases
The wheelchair athletes have also seen their prize purse increase by around 35%, with the total prize purse rising from R612,000 to R833,000. The wheelchair winners will now receive $10,000, up from $8,000, while second place will receive $5,500, and third place will get $4,500.
The incentive for breaking the men’s or women’s course record has been increased by 33%, from $15,000 to $20,000. Additionally, the organisers have added an extra R250,000 incentive for a new World Record. Local athletes will also have something to strive for, with the first three South African men and women receiving R25,000, R12,500, and R7,500 respectively. The first three Western Province athletes will also receive prize money of R3,000, R2,000, and R1,000. If a South African marathoner breaks the SA Record, they will receive a $10,000 incentive.
The combined prize purse for 2026, covering the marathon, wheelchair race, 10km Peace Run, and three Trail Runs, has been increased by 37% from 2025’s R3,554,500 to R4,862,500. When all the record incentives are included, the total prize purse on offer amounts to a massive R6,602,500, as outlined on the official website.
