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The Comrades Marathon 2027 is shaping up to be about much more than running.
As the iconic KwaZulu-Natal ultramarathon prepares to celebrate its centenary, organisers have unveiled plans to make the 100th edition a celebration of runners, communities, history, heritage, charity and the people who have helped make Comrades what it is today.
The plans were unveiled at the new finish venue, Kings Park Stadium, bringing together dignitaries, running legends – including Durban’s own Blanche Moila – and Comrades Marathon stakeholders.
And with the race set to take place on Sunday, 13 June 2027, the countdown to one of the biggest milestones in the event’s history is officially under way.
READ: Blanche Moila: The South African runner still breaking barriers at 70
A race that has survived a century
Opening the launch, Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Chairperson Mark Leathers reflected on the rarity of a sporting event reaching 100 runnings.
“100 runnings of this incredible race. 100 runnings of sacrifice, triumph, pain, pride, and unforgettable human stories,” says Leathers.
He pointed to major sporting events including the Boston Marathon, Tour de France and SA Open Golf, which began in 1921 alongside the Comrades Marathon.
The race has been cancelled only twice in its history: during World War II and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, the 2027 edition is set to add another chapter to that extraordinary history.
READ: Comrades is charting its own course, but what does this mean for runners?
Comrades 2027 gets a new Kings Park finish
The 2027 Down Run will start at Pietermaritzburg City Hall before heading towards Durban and finishing at Kings Park Stadium. The new venue has been selected to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of spectators expected to line the route and gather at the finish.
Organisers have made adjustments to the route to ensure the Kings Park finish keeps the total distance under 92km - around 91km.
The centenary edition is also being designed so runners are quite literally running through Comrades history, with the finish straight surrounded by images, stories, monuments and milestones from the race’s first 100 years.
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A record 28 000 runners
One of the biggest changes for 2027 is the size of the field.
Race Director Sue Forge confirmed that the centenary edition will be capped at 28,000 runners – the largest field in Comrades history.
With demand for the race already enormous – the 2026 event sold out in record time – prospective 2027 runners are being encouraged to plan ahead.
“The decision to increase the entry cap to 28 000 has been carefully considered and is supported by extensive operational planning,” says Forge.
She says the CMA is working with host municipalities, emergency services, traffic authorities and operational partners to strengthen traffic management, transport, crowd control and venue operations.
The aim is to accommodate the larger field while maintaining the safety and experience of runners, volunteers, spectators and communities.
Entries for 2027
- Entries for the 2026 race had sold out by November 2025, so the 2027 edition will use a hybrid entry system to ensure an equal chance of participation.
- The heritage green and yellow numbers will get priority entry from 25 to 31 August 2026, followed by CMA members from 2 September.
- Around 52% of entries will be allocated through a ballot, which runs from 9 to 22 September 2026, opening the centenary race to runners from around the world.
- Seeding will follow the same approach as 2026, from fastest to slowest, allowing runners to settle into the race at their own pace.
- The qualifying requirement remains unchanged: runners must complete one marathon under five hours between 15 June 2026 and 3 May 2027.
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Entry fees for 2027 remain unchanged since 2022:
- South African runners: R1 200
- African runners: R2 000
- International runners: R4 500
All entries must be made through the Comrades app or Comrades Marathon website.
- TIP: If you are hoping to run the 2027 Centenary Down Run, keep an eye on the official entry announcements and make sure your qualifying race is completed within the required window.
Bigger prizes and Comrades categories
The centenary edition will also introduce new ways to recognise runners.
Prize money will be equal across men’s and women’s categories, with the male and female winners each receiving R1 million.
For the first time, Comrades will also introduce prizes for:
- The youngest runner to cross the finish line
- The oldest runner to cross the finish line
- The first novice to cross the finish line
Charity remains at the heart of the race
The centenary edition will also expand Comrades’ charitable work.
- The Race4Charity platform will grow to eight charities, including Gift of the Givers and the Order of the Tin Hats, with an ambitious target of raising more than R10 million in 2027.
- The Amabeadibeadi Centenary Experience will include 1 000 entries, opening on 25 August 2026. Runners can pay the entry fee and choose to contribute an additional R10 000 to the charitable initiative.
- Comrades will continue supporting the Comrades Relief Fund, which helps underprivileged runners by offering a 50% discount on entry fees.
- The CMA’s CSI Legacy Projects will also extend the organisation’s community support beyond race day, with projects spanning education, health, social welfare and other areas.
- The Toyota Comrades Marathon Win A Car competition continues this year, with the lucky prize winner driving home in a new car on the day!
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Seven new ways to celebrate 100 years
CMA Board Member Rory Steyn also revealed seven incredible new initiatives planned for the Centenary edition.
1. A race for the whole family
For the first time, Comrades will introduce a fun run on race day, allowing more family members to take part and cross the Comrades finish line.
2. Project 195
Comrades wants the Centenary race to truly belong to the world. Project 195 aims to have at least one runner from each of the world’s 195 countries.
3. 34 legends, one Eternal Flame
The original Comrades Marathon had just 34 runners. For 2027, 34 running legends will wear 1921-era kit and run the final 3.4km down the Centenary Tunnel before lighting an Eternal Flame.
4. Run through a century
The finish straight will become a visual history lesson, surrounded by images, stories, monuments and milestones from the past 100 years.
5. Honouring those who gave their lives
Comrades was founded by Vic Clapham to honour the sacrifice of comrades who died in the Great War. That history will be acknowledged with a formal military wreath-laying ceremony at Durban City Hall, with the Military Veterans Association among the charities supported this year.
6. Representation through artwork
Artist Richie Ryall is creating a commemorative collage of imagery from the race’s history. All living Comrades legends will sign 100 prints, which will be sold to raise money for charity.
7. A Centenary feast
Still a work in progress, but one celebrity chef who has run Comrades will team up with local chefs to create a fundraising banquet for charity.
A logo inspired by the Comrades story
The centenary logo was also unveiled at the launch, with Mala Reddy of AlienNation Creative Agency explaining that its inspiration came from a single bead becoming many.
The idea represents the many individual people who have contributed to the Comrades story over the past century, with the colourful design bringing those threads together.
Commenting on the race slogan: The Greatest Story Ever Run, CMA General Manager Alain Dalais says:
“The Comrades Marathon has such a rich history...Now in 2027, we get to add a glorious 100th chapter to this story as we celebrate the centenary of one of the world’s greatest running events, and we invite our 2027 entrants to honour those who came before them while contributing to this next chapter of the race.
"The Greatest Story Ever Run is timeless, memorable and distinctive, making it ideally suited as the official centenary slogan to honour history, run the legacy, and be part of the Comrades Marathon story.”
Looking forward to a momentous run
On 13 June 2027, more than a century after those original 34 runners set off, the Centenary Down Run is preparing to write the next chapter.
This is truly going to be a Comrades Marathon for everyone!
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