By KPC Sports Reporter
Legendary Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge will headline the 2026 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon as the opening race of an ambitious seven-continent running tour aimed at inspiring communities and promoting healthy living.
The marathon, scheduled for May 24, 2026, in Cape Town, South Africa, will mark the first stop of “Eliud’s Running World,” a two-year project in which the Kenyan icon plans to run a marathon on each continent while engaging local running communities.
Announcing the initiative, Kipchoge said starting the tour in Africa carries deep personal significance.
“Africa is where my journey as a runner began and where the foundation of my success is deeply rooted,” he said.
“To start this World Tour in Cape Town is very special. It is about celebrating the strength of African running and inspiring the next generation.”
The project will also raise funds for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which focuses on environmental conservation and expanding access to education in underserved communities.
Organizers of the Cape Town race say Kipchoge’s participation will boost the event’s growing global profile.
More than 27,000 runners are expected to line up at the start in 2026, highlighting the rapid rise of what has become one of Africa’s premier road races.
The marathon is also seeking recognition as part of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors, which includes races such as the Boston Marathon and London Marathon.
If successful, it would become the first African race to achieve that status.
Clark Gardner, chief executive of the race, said hosting Kipchoge would inspire both elite athletes and recreational runners across the continent.
“Eliud represents the very best of what running can inspire,” Gardner said.
“To see him race our streets and engage with young runners across the city will be incredibly powerful.”
Kipchoge, widely regarded as the greatest marathon runner in history and the first man to run a sub-two-hour marathon under controlled conditions, said additional tour destinations will be announced soon as part of the global campaign to make “the world a running world.”