Comrades Marathon Finishes in Durban on 13 June 2027

SOUTH AFRICA · SPORT

The Comrades Marathon is a 91 km road race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, and the 2027 edition is its 100th. All 28,000 places are taken, so this guide is for visitors who plan to watch.

The 100th Comrades Marathon takes place on Sunday, 13 June 2027, and runs about 91 km from Pietermaritzburg City Hall to Durban. The organisers list a 5:00 a.m. start, which is 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, 12 June 2027, in New York.

Entries are closed and every place has been allocated, so most US visitors will come as spectators or supporters. The race finishes at a new venue, the Kings Park precinct in Durban.

In Plain English

• Comrades: a yearly road ultramarathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, run in one day with a 12 hour limit.
• Down run: the direction from Pietermaritzburg to Durban; the race swaps direction each year.
• CMA: the Comrades Marathon Association, the organiser that runs the race and its entries.
• Ballot: a lottery for places; unlucky applicants stay in the draw without reapplying.
• Cut-off: a time limit at a point on the route; runners who miss it are stopped.

What the Comrades Marathon Is

The Comrades Marathon is a road race of about 91 km between the KwaZulu-Natal cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The organisers say the 2027 race is its 100th edition and its 50th down run.

The race alternates direction each year, and 2027 runs downhill from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Runners have a 12 hour time limit, with intermediate cut-offs still to be announced.

The Comrades Marathon Association says the 2027 field is capped at 28,000 runners, the largest in its history. The record down run field before this was 24,172 in 2025.

The Course and the New Finish

The 2027 race starts outside Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishes at the Kings Park precinct in Durban. The association says the finish area offers significantly more space for the race village.

Time Out Durban reports the move was made for the hundreds of thousands of spectators expected along the route. It adds that organisers adjusted the route to keep the distance around 91 km.

The 2025 down run measured 89.98 km, according to the Sunday Tribune of Durban. The official 2027 distance will be set after the course is measured and roadworks are finished.

The Citizen calls the finish the Kings Park Rugby Stadium precinct in Durban. Spectator areas at the finish have not been published.

Entries Are Closed, but You Can Still Go

General entries closed on 30 September 2026, and the association says all places for the centenary have been allocated. The final field is 28,070 athletes.

Scrolla, a Johannesburg news site, reported that 42,802 runners entered the general ballot for 14,519 places. Another 13,481 runners secured places through earlier windows for members, number holders and charity entrants.

Fees were R1,200 (about US$72) for South Africans, R2,000 (about US$121) for Africans and R4,500 (about US$271) for international runners. The rate is ZAR 16.58 per US$1, from open.er-api.com on 25 October 2026.

Charity entries carried a compulsory R10,000 (about US$603) contribution on top of the entry fee. Time Out Durban reports that charity entries had raised more than R9.2 million (about US$555,000) within days of opening.

The association says a withdrawal and substitution process will be announced, which lets runners pass on entries. Runners must also finish a certified marathon in under five hours between 15 June 2026 and 3 May 2027.

Marathon Tours & Travel, the official international tour operator, opened guaranteed entry packages on 25 August 2026. Whether any packages remain is not published, so ask the operator directly.

The Centenary Celebrations

The association says celebrations run for the nine months before the race and continue on race day. Its chairperson, Mark Leathers, promised many centenary activities building to a spectacular celebration.

Time Out Durban lists a race-day family fun run and 34 legends running the final 3.4 km in 1921 style kit. They will then light an Eternal Flame, with a wreath-laying ceremony at Durban City Hall.

The winners of the men’s and women’s races each receive R1 million (about US$60,000), with equal prize money across both races. The race also has a Project 195 goal of at least one runner from every country.

Dates and places for the family fun run, the ceremonies and the race village are not yet published. Check the official Comrades website for the programme before you book.

Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors

The US State Department says US citizens need no visa for visits of 90 days or less. It also says every arrival needs two consecutive completely blank visa pages in the passport.

Travellers coming from or through a yellow fever country must show a vaccination certificate, given at least 10 days before arrival. A valid US driver’s licence is accepted for stays under six months, and traffic keeps to the left.

The department tells travellers to exercise increased caution in South Africa because of crime and civil unrest. Check the department’s current advisory level on its country page before you book.

Violent crime is common, including armed robbery and carjacking. Keep valuables out of sight, avoid walking alone at night and use registered transport.

The emergency number for police and emergency services is 10111. The department also lists an after hours line for the US Consulate General in Johannesburg on its country page.

What It Means for You

If you hold a place, the 5:00 a.m. start means an early night on Saturday, 12 June 2027. If you do not, await the substitution process and ask the tour operator about packages.

If you plan to watch, book flights and Durban hotels early, because 28,070 runners bring families and large crowds are expected. Book accommodation that lets you cancel until the programme and road closures are published.

Budget carefully, because no spectator charge or ticket price has been published for race day. June is winter in South Africa, so pack warm layers for the dawn start.

What Is Not Known

The official 2027 distance is not fixed, with the association saying about 91 km and The Citizen quoting 89 km. Intermediate cut-off times have not been announced.

Spectator viewing points, road closures, the expo dates and access to the Kings Park race village have not been published. Public transport plans for race day are also not published.

The date and rules of the withdrawal and substitution process are not announced. Whether any Marathon Tours & Travel packages remain on sale is not stated.

No prediction market on the race was found on Polymarket, so no betting odds are shown. Weather and any course changes from roadworks cannot be known this far ahead.

What Comes Next

Runners must submit qualifying details by Monday, 3 May 2027, and the race follows on Sunday, 13 June 2027. The association says it will share the substitution process and course details in due course.

Runners who chose instalments must pay the balance by Sunday, 31 January 2027, or forfeit their entry. Watch comrades.com for the programme, the expo and the route.

Connected Coverage

The Rio Times South Africa hub collects its coverage, and the Durban city guide covers the finish city. For events there, read What to Do in Durban in November 2026.

Another Durban sports date is covered in Sharks vs Stormers in Durban on 5 December. For trip planning, read South Africa Holidays and Closures in December 2026.

For safety advice, read Is South Africa Safe for Expats as Crime Drops. For housing, read Renting in South Africa as a Foreigner in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2027 Comrades Marathon and where does it finish?

It runs on Sunday, 13 June 2027, starting at 5:00 a.m. at Pietermaritzburg City Hall. It finishes at the Kings Park precinct in Durban, after about 91 km.

Can I still enter the 2027 Comrades Marathon?

General entries closed on 30 September 2026, and the association says all 28,000 places are allocated. It plans a withdrawal and substitution process, so watch comrades.com.

Do US citizens need a visa to watch the Comrades Marathon?

No, the State Department says no visa is needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passports need two consecutive blank visa pages, and the department urges increased caution.

Sources: Comrades Marathon Association, official site; Comrades Marathon Association, 2027 centenary launch; Comrades Marathon Association, entry process and fees; Comrades Marathon Association, 2027 entry schedule; Time Out Durban, new Kings Park finish; Time Out Durban, first entry window sells out; Sunday Tribune, 100th Comrades Marathon; ECR, Comrades launches centenary edition; The Citizen, what runners need to know; Scrolla via AllAfrica, ballot figures; US State Department, South Africa country information; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 26 October 2026).

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