The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, taking place on 24 May 2026, is one step closer to joining the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors.
Image: Supplied
The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will take place on Sunday, May 24, with organisers and the City warning of significant traffic disruptions along the route.
Several roads will be closed, and restrictions will be implemented in areas affected by the race. The City has urged residents, motorists, and participants to take note of the logistical arrangements in place for race day.
The marathon route will link Green Point, the Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Salt River, Observatory, the Southern Suburbs and Sea Point. Roads in these areas are expected to be impacted for several hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Authorities have advised road users to plan their travel and expect delays across the affected parts of the city during the weekend of the event.
These cover some major traffic arteries including:
A reminder that parking restrictions will be implemented on several roads in the race footprint from Friday, May 22, to ensure a car-free route.
Key areas include Green Point, Sea Point, the CBD, District Six, Woodstock, Observatory, Salt River, Mowbray, Rondebosch and Newlands.
Residents and motorists are urged to adhere to the no-parking notices, as vehicles parked in the restricted areas will be towed.
Cape Town Marathon organisers have planned for alternative and secure parking in areas where residents rely on on-street parking.
Affected residents can contact the Cape Town Marathon race office at comms@capetownmarathon.com for information on alternative parking arrangements.
Runners and spectators going to the start and finish in the Green Point Precinct for the peace runs, trail and marathon are reminded there will be little to no access to parking in the precinct.
The Cape Town Marathon has put together a transport plan that includes park & ride, MyCiTi shuttles, a special train service and a bicycle park.
On Saturday, May 23, the marathon will run a shuttle service from the V&A Waterfront, the CTICC, Civic Centre and Thibault Square MyCiTi stations to the start line outside DHL Stadium for athletes participating in the 5km and 10km peace runs, as well as the trail runs.
These will operate between 5:30am and 5:30pm.
A park & ride system, with a shuttle service and parking, will operate from Century City and UCT on Sunday, with the first buses leaving at 05:30 and the last bus to the start line departing at 6:30am.
The first return bus to Century City and UCT leaves at 11am from the MyCiTi Stadium Station, with the last bus departing at 5:30pm.
A free MyCiTi shuttle to the start line will operate from the Civic Centre, Thibault Square and CTICC between 5:30am until 6:45am on Sunday pre-race. The return bus will operate from 11am – 5:30pm post-race.
For those taking the MyCiTi shuttle from the Civic Centre station, the City of Cape Town will open its parking bays for Cape Town Marathon runners on Sunday.
The parking bays, accessible from Hertzog Boulevard incoming and on Civic Avenue, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 5am
The parking will remain open until 6pm on Sunday.
The marathon will also impact service on several MyCiTi routes, including in the inner city, Sea Point, Camp’s Bay, Hout Bay/Hangberg, through Woodstock and Salt River.
The City is activating its vibrant hydration station and cheer zone outside City Hall to keep the energy high as runners pass through the city centre.
Members of the public are invited to gather at the 29,9km mark on the Grand Parade, in front of City Hall, to cheer on participants as they make their way towards the finish line.
A lively minstrel group, DJ and dancers will help lift the runners’ spirits and celebrate the occasion.
The festive atmosphere will not be limited to Darling Street and spectators are encouraged to line the route and be part of this historic event.
The Cape Town Marathon has compiled a list of the best spectator viewing points along the route:
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