Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge has officially chosen the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon as the starting point for his ambitious global running initiative dubbed “Eliud’s Running World,” also known as the Eliud Kipchoge World Tour.
The two-time Olympic champion will line up in Cape Town on Sunday, May 24, 2026, marking a historic milestone as it will be his first-ever marathon race on African soil.
The event will launch a two-year quest in which Kipchoge aims to run a full 42.2-kilometre marathon on each of the seven continents, using the tour to inspire communities worldwide to embrace running for healthier and more connected lives.
Beyond competition, the tour is also designed as a major fundraising campaign. Through the initiative, Kipchoge hopes to raise $1 million (about Sh130 million) for the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation.
The funds will support education and environmental programmes, including the construction of libraries and schools as well as forest restoration projects.
Kipchoge said starting the journey in Africa carries deep personal meaning.
“Africa is where my journey as a runner began and where the foundation of my success is deeply rooted. 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. To race my first ever marathon on the African continent holds deep meaning for me. I cannot wait,” he said.
The announcement, made Monday through official marathon channels and Kipchoge’s platforms, adds major momentum to the rapidly growing Cape Town race.
Organisers expect more than 27,000 participants in 2026, making it one of the largest road races on the continent.
The marathon is also currently in its final evaluation year for inclusion in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a prestigious series that features races such as the Boston Marathon, London Marathon and Berlin Marathon.
If successful, it would become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major.
All runners who finish the 2026 race will receive a provisional Abbott World Marathon Majors star, pending final confirmation of the event’s major status.
The race will also host the AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championships, bringing elite age-group runners from around the world to the South African city.
CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Clark Gardner, welcomed Kipchoge’s participation, saying the Kenyan icon embodies the spirit of the sport.
“Eliud represents the very best of what running can inspire. To see him race our streets, meet our communities, and engage with young runners across the city will be incredibly powerful,” Gardner said.
The Cape Town race will serve as the first of seven stops on Kipchoge’s global marathon tour. The remaining races—spanning Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Oceania and Antarctica—are expected to be announced later this week.
For Africa’s running community, Kipchoge’s decision to launch the tour on the continent marks a symbolic and historic moment, shining a global spotlight on the birthplace of many of the world’s greatest distance runners.
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