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If you’re hoping to secure a spot in the 2027 Comrades Marathon, you'd better move quickly!
The first entry window for the historic 100th edition of the Comrades Marathon opened at 10am on Tuesday (25 August), closing just seven hours later, after all available places were snapped up.
And that isn't the only record already being broken. More than R9.2 million has already been raised for charity, surpassing the previous fundraising record of R8 012 438 set by the 2025 race.
The centenary down run takes place on Sunday, 13 June 2027, starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.
READ: Comrades Marathon 2027 gets a new Kings Park finish and its biggest field yet
First entry window disappears
The first window was reserved for Green Number holders – runners with 10 or more Comrades medals – and Yellow Number holders, those on nine medals who could earn their Green Number in 2027.
It was the first year that Yellow Number holders were included, joining Green Number runners in receiving early access as recognition of their long-standing commitment to the race.
“The CMA [Comrades Marathon Association] anticipated exceptionally high demand for the 2027 race, given the significance of the 100th edition and the special centenary celebrations, promotions and activations planned around it. Even so, the speed at which this first allocation was taken up has been extraordinary,” says CMA Race Director Sue Forge.
Green and Yellow Number runners who missed out aren't necessarily out of the running, however. Eligible CMA members will have another opportunity during the second entry window, followed by the general ballot.
READ: What's on in Durban this September!
There's still a chance to get in
Missed the first window? Don't panic just yet. The 2027 Comrades entry process has been divided into stages.
Entry Window 2: 2–5 September 2026
This window opens at 10am on Wednesday, 2 September and is reserved for CMA Members who signed up for annual membership by 18 August 2026.
Entries are first come, first served and the window closes at 10am on Saturday, 5 September – or earlier if capacity is reached.
Entry Window 3: 9–22 September 2026
The final window is the General Ballot Application and opens at 10am on Wednesday, 9 September. Applications close at 4.30pm on Tuesday, 22 September, with the ballot draw taking place on Wednesday, 23 September.
Successful runners will be notified immediately after the draw.
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R9.2 million for charity – and counting
If the speed of the entries is anything to go by, the centenary edition could also be one of the biggest fundraising years in Comrades history. The CMA introduced 1 000 Amabeadibeadi Charity Entries for the 2027 race, offering guaranteed entry at the applicable base fee alongside a compulsory R10 000 charitable contribution.
By 10am on Thursday, 27 August, more than 920 of these entries had already been sold in 48 hours, meaning more than R9.2 million had been raised through the initiative.
Additional donations made through the Race4Charity initiative have pushed the total even higher. The CMA's longer-term charity record makes the achievement even more significant.
The Amabeadibeadi Charity Drive was established in 1996 for Comrades to give back to the communities that have supported the race since its beginnings in 1921. Over the past three decades, it has raised more than R91 million.
In 2026 alone, the campaign raised R7 166 249, which was distributed among six official charities including CHOC, SANParks Honorary Rangers, Community Chest Durban & Pietermaritzburg, Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, Rise Against Hunger and Childline KwaZulu-Natal. The handover was made on Thursday (27 August) at Southern Sun Maharani Hotel in Durban.
Race4Charity was the biggest contributor to the 2026 total, generating more than R4.5 million through runners fundraising for their chosen charities.
“We believe that one runner can make a difference, but one thousand runners can create a movement. And that movement can leave a legacy long after the final runner crosses the finish line,” says Nontuthuko Mashimane, Vice Chairperson of the CMA Board and Head of the CMA CSI & Charities Portfolio.
READ: Deadly Dozen Durban 2026: One of the toughest fitness races is coming back to the city
More than a race
The centenary edition is shaping up to be a celebration of everything that makes Comrades special.
Plans include a family fun run on race day, an international Project 195 challenge to bring at least one runner from each of the world's 195 countries, and 34 Comrades legends running the final 3.4km before lighting an Eternal Flame.
There will also be a visual journey through 100 years of Comrades history along the finish straight, a military wreath-laying ceremony, a commemorative artwork and a fundraising banquet featuring chefs who have tackled the race themselves.
What you need to know
- Date: Sunday, 13 June 2027
- Start: Pietermaritzburg City Hall
- Finish: Kings Park Stadium, Durban
- Field: 28 000 runners
- Entries: Through the Comrades Marathon website or app
For the latest entry information and FAQs, visit Comrades Marathon.
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