Comrades Marathon Unveils 2027 Centenary as ASA Declares Race Unsanctioned

A Centenary Launch Under Federation Cloud

The Comrades Marathon Association launched its 100th-edition centenary race in Durban on Wednesday, 20 August 2026, unveiling plans for a 13 June 2027 Comrades with a record entry cap of 28,000 runners. Athletics South Africa formally distanced itself from the event the same day, issuing a statement that the 100th Comrades Marathon is not sanctioned by the national federation. The federation cited the organisers' failure to satisfy sanctioning requirements under the constitutions, rules and regulations of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics, ASA and World Athletics.

The ASA–CMA Dispute

The unsanctioning stems from a 1 August 2026 Special General Meeting in Pietermaritzburg at which CMA members voted not to re-affiliate with KwaZulu-Natal Athletics. The long-running feud centres on unpaid licence fees from the 2026 race and the 2027 race date. ASA reaffirmed its support for KZNA as the recognised provincial body and confirmed its status as South Africa's recognised World Athletics member federation. CMA chairperson Mark Leathers maintained the race will proceed regardless and said members had given clear direction on how to engage with the federations, adding the CMA remains open to a genuine partnership rather than a one-sided arrangement.

Centenary Campaign and History

The launch introduced the centenary slogan "The Greatest Story Ever Run," selected from more than 200 submissions from the Comrades community, alongside a special 100th-edition race logo. The 2027 race will be the 100th edition overall and the 50th edition of the traditional Down Run, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. CMA General Manager Alain Dalais said the centenary honours the pioneers who ran in 1921 to pay tribute to their comrades in arms from the Great War. The race has been held nearly every year since 1921, except for five years during World War II (1941–45) and two years during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and 2021).

Record Entry Cap

The 28,000-entry cap will make the 2027 race the largest Comrades Marathon ever staged. The 2025 Down Run currently holds the route record with 24,172 entries, while the 2019 Up Run attracted 24,636 entries. Organisers raised the cap to allow more participants to take part in the centenary edition, with the start in Pietermaritzburg and the finish at the Kings Park Stadium precinct in Durban. Leathers framed the event as more than a race, calling it a celebration of every runner, volunteer, supporter, partner and leader who has carried the event forward across generations.

What Remains Uncertain

Open questions include whether CMA will seek alternative sanctioning pathways, whether ASA and KZNA will escalate formal action, and whether the race's unsanctioned status will affect elite athlete rankings, international entries or recognition by World Athletics. CMA has signalled continued willingness to engage with ASA and KZNA, but both federations maintain the dispute centres on regulatory compliance rather than partnership terms.

Next Verifiable Milestone

The 100th Comrades Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 13 June 2027, starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing in Durban. Further statements from ASA, KZNA, CMA or World Athletics regarding sanctioning and athlete eligibility are expected before the entry process for the 28,000-field centenary race opens.