The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, candidate race for the Abbott World Marathon Majors, is just under a month away. The City calls on residents and motorists to support a car-free route for a successful race event.
The Cape Town Marathon is being assessed on the event’s operational standards and participant experience as part of its bid to join the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors.
The Marathon Majors represents a series of the world’s most renowned marathons, including the Boston Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, New York City Marathon, Tokyo Marathon and the Sydney Marathon.
A key requirement for Cape Town’s inclusion is the successful implementation of a fully car-free race route.
To support this, the Cape Town Marathon management, working with the City’s Events Coordination Committee, will implement no-parking restrictions and road closures along key sections of the marathon route in the lead up to race day.
Affected areas include the Atlantic Seaboard, CBD, District Six, Mowbray, Observatory, Salt River, Woodstock, Rondebosch and Newlands.
These key routes will be affected from 08:00 on Friday, 22 May until 15:30 on Sunday, 24 May 2026:
- Beach Road: Between Fritz Sonnenberg Road and Portswood Road
- Beach Road: Between Mouille Point Lighthouse and Fritz Sonnenberg Road
- Portswood Road: Between Beach Road and Helen Suzman Boulevard
- Searle Street: Between Nelson Mandela Boulevard and Victoria Road
- Victoria Road (Main Road): Between Searle Street and Avenue Road/Salt River Road
- Victoria Road (Main Road): Between Avenue Road and Browning Road (inbound only)
- Victoria Road (Main Road): Between Browning Road and N2 (inbound only)
- Observatory Main Road: Between N2 and Rhodes Avenue (inbound only)
- Albert Road: Between Lower Main Road and Salt River Circle
- Darling Street: Between Castle Street and Plein Street
- Long Street: Between Riebeek Street and Orange Street
- Riebeek Street: Between Long Street and Buitengracht Street
- Somerset Road and Green Point Main Road: Between Buitengracht Street and Three Anchor Bay Road
- Beach Road: Between Three Anchor Bay Road and Queens Road Circle
A comprehensive list of road closures and no-parking zones is available here.
‘Delivering a car-free route is critical to the marathon’s international assessment. We are asking residents and visitors to partner with us by planning ahead and avoiding parking along the route on race weekend.
‘The City has been working closely with organisers to ensure a safe and efficient event. The public has already shown its cooperation in 2024 and 2025, and we are hoping for the same this year, as it will play a key role in achieving the marathon objectives, and showcasing Cape Town as a world-class host city,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The 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 accommodation.
If successful, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will become the first Abbott World Marathon Major on the African continent.
