With its long, winding roads and trails featuring scenic mountain and seaside views that draw people from all over the world, it is no wonder that Cape Town is a supreme hotspot for running races.

With the summer months coming to a close, it’s the last chance for runners of all skill levels to take on these challenges and set their personal records while the sun is still out.

Running for Transformation

Annually in June

Every year, Youth in Transformation hosts its fundraiser, ‘Running for Transformation’, which consists of both a 5km and a 10km run in aid of local community charities in Cape Town. Runners can bring the whole family along, as there is coffee, food, and fun activities for the kids.

Funds raised from the event will go toward the organisation’s youth-based projects, including the Butterfly Project and the Buntu Majalaza Scholarship. Walkers are also allowed, ensuring an inclusive experience for all who want to raise money for charity.

Cost: From R75. Enter now on Entryninja.

When: 16 June 2026 | From 8am
Where: SACS, Newlands Avenue, Newlands, Cape Town

Run for Hope

Organised by The Cindy Foundation to mark Youth Day, this 5km fun run supports the Foundation’s Safe House Project; an initiative to establish a dedicated safe space for children in the informal settlement on Nectar Road, Retreat. The Cindy Foundation focuses its work on children and families in need across the Retreat area of the South Peninsula.

Lime CPT leads participants along a 5km route through Zandvlei Recreational Park, a wetland nature reserve bordering the Zandvlei estuary near the False Bay coastline. Every finisher receives a medal and goodie bag, and participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations on the day to support families in the Nectar Road community.

Cost:
R150 Adults | R50 Kids

When: 16 June 2026 | 10am – 12pm
Where: Zandvlei Recreational Park, Promenade Rd, Marina Da Gama, Cape Town

Festival of Running

This celebration of athleticism and Cape Town takes runners from the Sea Point Promenade all the way down the peninsula’s coastal roads. With distances ranging from a half-marathon to a 50km ultra-marathon and even a 5x5km relay race, there are options for all fitness levels.

The event expects over 10 000 participants, all chasing medals along some of the best views the city has to offer, with the majority of the race taking place between Lion’s Head and the Atlantic Ocean.

Cost: TBC

When: 18 & 19 July 2026 | Times TBC
Where: Sea Point Promenade (Opposite SABC), Cape Town

Totalsports Women’s Race

This annual Women’s Day celebration sees a sea of pink shirts run or walk either a 5km or 10km in solidarity with all women: mothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters alike. In line with its inclusive message and atmosphere, runners can enter in groups and go at their preferred pace.

The route begins in Darling Street in District 6, and ends at the Grand Parade Centre near the middle of town. Normal entries have closed; only those with valid vouchers can still register to join the country’s largest Nationwide Women’s Day Celebration.

Cost: R155 (10km) | R120 (5km) | R60 (Temp License). Registrations via Onreg.

When: 9 August 2026 | 8am (10km) | 8.30am (5km)
Where: Darling Street, District 6

Nelson Mandela Marathon

The inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon brings 20,000 runners and walkers through a 42km route across Cape Town in honour of Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy.

Organised by international sports company Golazo in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the event donates all profits directly to the Foundation, which was established by Mandela after his retirement from public life to advance justice, dignity, equality and freedom through programmes in education, rural development and HIV/AIDS.

The marathon route begins on Strand Street and passes through the Atlantic seaboard, the Foreshore, and Milnerton before finishing on the historic Grand Parade, with Robben Island visible on the horizon. Final route details will be confirmed at the end of June 2026. Four ambassadors have been named: Dr Paul Tergat, five-time World Cross Country Champion and IOC member; Catherine Ndereba, two-time World Marathon Champion and four-time Boston Marathon champion; Hendrick Ramaala, former New York City Marathon champion; and Prudence Sekgodiso, women’s 800m world champion at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships.

Joining the weekend is the Slave Route Challenge, a historically significant Cape Town race established in 2011 by Itheko Sport Athletic Club, offered in 21km, 10km, and 5km distances. The Slave Route Challenge routes pass landmarks including the Castle of Good Hope, Company’s Garden, Bo-Kaap, and District Six.

Cost: R700 (42km) | R260 (21km) | R190 (10km Run) | R150 (10km Walk) | R80 (5km). Entries open on the website.

When: 18 October 2026
Where: Strand Street, Cape Town | Finish: Grand Parade, Cape Town

Coming in 2027

Tyger Run/Walk with Discovery Vitality

Annually in March

Participate in Discovery Vitality’s age and gender inclusive Tyger Run/Walk. Participants can choose to either attempt a 6km fun run/walk or a 15km competitive race. At 9am, once races are over, medals will be awarded to all finishers within cut-off times.

Participating runners are required to enter online and collect their numbers on the 20th of March between 1oam and 6pm. There are various collection points, allowing participants to choose whichever is closest to them. Participants are also advised to carry their own water to the event, though four refill stations will be available, two of which will have coke on the route, with Coca-Cola and water at the finish area of the event.

Walkers are welcome and event t-shirts can be purchased at the event as part of the entry process. Wheelchair athletes are urged to arrange with the event organisers in advance.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC
Where: Tyger Valley Centre, Corner of Bill Bezuidenhout and Willie van Schoor, Bellville Park, Cape Town

AVBOB Tygerberg 30km

Annually in March

Tygerberg Athletics Club welcomes running enthusiasts to participate in the AVBOB 30km race. Both licensed and unlicensed athletes are welcome, and wheelchair athletes looking to participate are urged to arrange with the event organisers beforehand. Refreshment tables will have water and coke at approximately 3kms apart, though there will be no refill stations on the path.

This is a pre-entry race only, but should the maximum number of entries not be met prior to the event, a limited number of entries will be taken at number
collection and on race day. Number collection is available at Sportsmans Warehouse locations in: Rondebosch, Somerset West and Tyger Valley. Participants can make their collections on the 23rd of March from 10am to 5pm.

Cash prizes will be awarded for all first to third place finishers in the open category and the aged categories, which include categories for people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70+.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC
Where: Starts and ends at Parow Athletics Track, 1 De Grendel Rd, Parow North, Cape Town

SPAR Women’s Challenge

Annually in March

A competition geared toward women running enthusiasts, support the SPAR Women’s Challenge by participating in either their 10km running race, 10km walk, or 5km fun run/walk. Men are eligible to enter but are NOT eligible for position or lucky draw prizes. Men will receive no seeing preference and will not be permitted to finish within the top 20 positions. The event also features a Grand Prix Series for elite athletes to compete against one another.

Included with each entry is: an event t-shirt, a peak, a magazine, a temp license (if required), a goodie bag and a medal. Number collection will take place on Friday, 22 and Saturday, 23 March at the Sportsmans Warehouse store you selected when entering. The first 14 000 finishers will receive a medal and drawstring goodie bag, whilst the top finishers will receive their cash prizes at the prize giving beginning at 9.30am.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC
Where: Green Point Common Sports Ground, Green Point, Cape Town

Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon

Annually in April

The Two Oceans Marathon invites qualifying runners to participate in either a 21.1km Half-marathon, or its main event, the 56km Ultra Marathon, which takes the participants on a route around the Cape Peninsula. This Marathon is one of South Africa’s leading marathons and is often acknowledged as one of the most scenic courses in the world, as runners pass through highlights such as Chapman’s Peak, Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Constantia and Newlands.

Entries are non-refundable, and medals are awarded to all finishers within cut-off times. The Ultra Marathon event takes place on the 11th, whilst the half-marathon is held the following day. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers racing as individuals or in teams, as well as the top Western Province Club Athletes and the top SA men and women competitors.

With the runners already set, friends and family can find their preferred viewing spots along Constantia Nek and Kirstenbosch, or wait at the finish line to congratulate the medalists.

Cost: Registrations have closed.

When: TBC
Where: Start at Newlands Main Road, at intersection on corner of Dean Street

TimBuild Spookhill Challenge

Annually in April

TimBuild brings the true Spookhill experience with a marathon featuring various costumed ghouls along the route, combining athletics and mythical elements in the form of a 15km race and a 5km fun run. Runners experience the beautiful vistas at the foot of the Helderberg Mountains whilst being encouraged by spooky figures on the path.

Entrants are advised to carry their own water, though water and Coke will be available at refill stations at regular intervals. Whether pushing for a good 15km time or simply enjoying the fun run, all participants who complete the race within the cutoff time receive medals, whilst the top finishers earn cash prizes.

Number collections are open on the 17th and 18th of April.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC
Where: Radloff Park, Somerset West, Cape Town

Langa Run4Freedom

Annually in April

Langa Athletic Club are once again hosting their Run4Freedom, featuring a 10km race and a 6km fun run. The race takes runners through the historic township of Langa, with the goal of supporting the community of this culturally rich, but historically disadvantaged area.

The race’s environment in the Cape Flats makes it truly unique compared to Cape Town’s famous city street marathons. Medals are handed to the first 1300 finishers for the 10km race, and the first 500 finishers for the 6km. Cash prizes are awarded to podium finishers by age group.

Number collections and manual race entry can be done from 25 May to the morning of race day.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC
Where: King Langalibalele Drive, opposite Johnson Ngwevela Community Hall

Absa RUN YOUR CITY 10k

Annually in May

ABSA’s annual 10km race is back, celebrating everything there is to love about the Mother City. This point-to-point road run is fast and flat, boasting magnificent coastal views and featuring live performances by some of Cape Town’s leading performing arts groups to encourage runners towards the finish line.

Enter this 10km and get the chance to enjoy a scenic run route, an event performance t-shirt, various entrant gifts, sponsor route entertainment points, refreshment stations along the route, and a bus ride from the CBD to the start point in Woodbridge Island and back from the finish in Long Street. Runners are also encouraged to enjoy the post-race celebrations at Cullinan Lawns.

Participants who finish within the cutoff times receive finishers’ medals. Runners are expected to enter online and collect their numbers at The Grand Parade between the 7th and 9th of May. Fitness enthusiasts with proof of performance can apply for the Contenders Programme to be eligible for prize money.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC
Where: Route begins at Woodbridge Island, Milnerton

SANLAM Cape Town Marathon

Annually in May

After being cancelled in 2025, the Cape Town Marathon is back.

There are numerous events for runners of all levels, from a 5km peace run/walk to a brutal ultra-marathon for those wanting a true challenge. Runners get to experience almost the entirety of the Mother City, with the route going from Green Point Stadium all the way to the Rondebosch Common, and back again.

Along the way lie all of the city’s iconic landmarks, including the V&A, the Castle, Groote Schuur Hospital, the Old Biscuit Mill, St George’s Cathedral, and many more. With one of the largest participant numbers and a route that traverses the entire city, this event is a bucket-list item for those wanting to complete a historic race.

This year, the Cape Town Marathon is Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate. Abbott World Marathon Majors represent the biggest, most renowned marathon races across the world, and the Cape Town Marathon is currently on track to join this prestigious list.

Participants who finish within the cutoff times receive finishers’ medals. Race pack collection is not available on race day, and must be done between 21 and 23 May at DHL Stadium. Although registrations for the marathon have closed, the Cape Town Marathon Expo is a good opportunity for the community to meet, whether running or spectating.

Entries for the accompanying trail and peace runs are still open.

Cost: TBC

When: TBC
Where: DHL Stadium, Green Point

See running races taking place in Joburg