Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town on 3 and 4 April

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SOUTH AFRICA · RUNNING

The Two Oceans Marathon returns to Cape Town on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 April 2027. US runners need no ballot win, because international places are sold through the race’s travel partner.

Both the 21.1 km Half and the 56 km Ultra now take up to 21,000 runners, up from 17,000 and 14,000. Race week opens on Wednesday 31 March with a night run.

What the Race Is and Why It Matters

The Two Oceans Marathon started in 1970 and runs around the Cape Peninsula, finishing on the University of Cape Town campus. The organisers bill it as “the world’s most beautiful marathon”.

Runner’s World South Africa reported on 2 July 2026 that the Half and the Ultra will each take 21,000 runners in 2027. The University of Cape Town will host the Two Oceans Marathon in 2027 and 2028.

Capacity matters because the 2025 Two Oceans Marathon went past its permit. Time Out Cape Town, citing News24, said 20,600 people entered the Half against 17,000 permitted places.

The Two Oceans Marathon still ran on 11 and 12 April 2026 after a period of uncertainty. Gerda Steyn won the women’s Ultra in 3:27:43 for a seventh title, iRunFar reported.

Arthur Jantjies took the men’s Ultra in 3:09:25 in his Ultra debut, after two earlier Half wins. The forecast for Saturday 11 April 2026 was cloudy at about 20°C (68°F), iRunFar reported.

Entries, Prices and Travel Packages

Runners from outside South Africa must buy their Two Oceans Marathon entry through Marathon Tours & Travel, the race’s official travel partner. They do not need to enter the ballot for the Half or the Ultra, the organisers say.

The official international fees, charged at the payment-day exchange rate, are £98 (about US$131) for the Half and £140 (about US$187) for the Ultra. The US page of Marathon Tours lists US$115 for the Half and US$165 for the Ultra.

The side races cost less, with the Night Run at £14 (about US$19) and the International Friendship Run at £11 (about US$15). The 24 km Trail Run is £43 (about US$57), and Marathon Tours lists US$19, US$15 and US$59 for the same three.

Dollar figures here use the exchange rates of Wednesday 21 October 2026, in pounds and rand per US dollar. Actual charges depend on the rate on the day you pay.

Marathon Tours sells a four-night Classic package from Thursday 1 to Monday 5 April at the AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront. It costs US$1,230 per person in a shared double room and US$1,830 in a single room.

The five-night Signature package runs from Wednesday 31 March to Monday 5 April at The Westin Cape Town, from US$2,330 each sharing. Packages include breakfast, race-day transport, an Expo visit, a race briefing and a pasta party.

Ultra runners must also show a qualifying run for the Two Oceans Marathon, wherever the entry is bought, Marathon Tours says. The race’s website mentioned a marathon under 5 hours for 2026, and the 2027 standard has not been posted.

Marathon Tours says payments are non-refundable and that the deposit is 30% of the package price plus the full entry fee. Its page on Wednesday 21 October 2026 showed a “Waitlist currently unavailable” error and a sign-up box for sale alerts, so confirm availability first.

Race Week Schedule and Start Times

Two Oceans Marathon week opens with the 8 km Night Run on Wednesday 31 March. The 4.5 km International Friendship Run follows on Thursday 1 April.

The Friendship Run reserves half of its 3,000 places for international runners, the organisers say. The Trail Runs follow on Friday 2 April, starting and finishing at the UCT Rugby Fields.

The organisers list 24 km, 18 km and 12 km trail options with 1,500 places in total. Entries for the Night Run, Friendship Run and Trail Runs opened on Monday 3 August 2026.

The Half Marathon is on Saturday 3 April and starts at 7:00 am in Cape Town, which is 1:00 am Eastern Time. South Africa is on UTC+2 all year, while the US East Coast is on daylight time by then.

The Ultra is on Sunday 4 April, and Marathon Tours lists a 6:00 am start, or midnight Eastern. Cape Town time is six hours ahead of New York in April.

At the Two Oceans Marathon Half, start chutes open at 04:30. Runners leave in 23 batches from A to Y, and late arrivals take the gun time of the last batch.

The Half cut-off is 3 hours 30 minutes from the batch gun to the finish mat. The Ultra limit is 7 hours, which the organisers stated for 2026 and Marathon Tours lists for 2027.

The Course and the Finish at UCT

The Half starts on Newlands Main Road and passes through Claremont, Wynberg and Constantia before climbing Southern Cross Drive. It returns to Newlands and finishes at the UCT Rugby Fields in Rondebosch, with seven water points along the way.

The Ultra covers 56 km around the Cape Peninsula. The 2026 route crossed Chapman’s Peak and Constantia Nek, and the 2027 route is unpublished.

Race numbers must be worn unaltered on the front and back of the top, not on shorts. Without a working timing chip you receive no official time, position or prizes.

Runners collect their race number and pack at the Expo, and nothing can be collected once collection closes. The 2027 Expo dates and place have not been published.

Getting to the Start and Around Cape Town

Parking at UCT and near the start is very limited, the organisers warned in 2025, so share lifts and arrive early. An event shuttle ran between the parking areas and the finish on Upper Campus.

In 2026, designated parking lay within walking distance of the start, including school fields, and prepaid tickets were sold at the Expo. Cape Town Tourism put ride-share drop-offs on Main Road at Rouwkoop Road from the city centre, and at Draper Road from Claremont.

That year Cape Town Tourism also advised travelling from False Bay to the city before 5:30 am or after 8:45 am. A stop-and-go system ran on Ou Kaapse Weg from 6:15 to 9:00 am.

Treat those arrangements as precedent only, because the 2027 Two Oceans Marathon plans have not been published. Packages from Marathon Tours include race-day transport, which removes the parking problem.

Tips for US and Foreign Visitors

US citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays under 90 days, the State Department says. Passports must be valid for 30 days after you leave and have two consecutive blank visa pages.

The State Department rates South Africa Level 2, exercise increased caution, a rating it issued on Tuesday 27 May 2025. It says hospitals often want payment up front, and it urges cover for medical evacuation.

A yellow fever certificate is needed only for arrivals from designated countries, the State Department says. Check that list against your flight routing before you travel.

You may bring up to R25,000 (about US$1,525) into South Africa, and unlimited foreign currency if you declare it. The same R25,000 (about US$1,525) limit applies when you leave.

The State Department says US government staff use only ride-hailing apps that show vehicle details and the driver’s name and picture. The same habit suits the ride to a start line before dawn.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The Two Oceans Marathon organisers have not published the 2027 Ultra start venue, start time or batch plan. The Half start is listed only as 7 AM.

The 2027 qualifying standard for the Ultra is not posted, and the 2026 rule asked for a marathon under 5 hours. Ask Marathon Tours which results it accepts before you pay.

We found no announcement of a TV or streaming partner for 2027. With the Half starting at 1:00 am Eastern, most US fans will follow live results online.

Road closures, parking, shuttles and Expo dates for 2027 are also unpublished, so this guide uses the 2025 and 2026 arrangements. Marathon Tours says package details are subject to change.

More on Planning a South Africa Trip

For the wider picture, see our Cape Town city guide and what to do in Cape Town in October 2026. Another Cape Town running event, apart from the Two Oceans Marathon, is covered in the Ultra-Trail Cape Town 2026 guide.

Thinking of staying longer? Read the best places to live in South Africa for expats.

More: South Africa news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Two Oceans Marathon in 2027?

The Half Marathon is on Saturday 3 April 2027 and the 56 km Ultra on Sunday 4 April. Race week starts with the Night Run on Wednesday 31 March.

How can US runners enter the Two Oceans Marathon?

Runners outside South Africa buy entries through Marathon Tours & Travel, the official travel partner, and do not need the ballot. Official international fees are £98 (about US$131) for the Half and £140 (about US$187) for the Ultra.

Do US citizens need a visa to run in South Africa?

No visa is needed for tourist stays under 90 days, the State Department says. Your passport must be valid for 30 days after you leave and have two consecutive blank pages.

Sources: Two Oceans Marathon, 2027 entries announcement (organiser), 3 August 2026; Two Oceans Marathon, 2027 dates and increased entry capacity (organiser), accessed 21 October 2026; Two Oceans Marathon, Half Marathon page (organiser), accessed 21 October 2026; Two Oceans Marathon, Ultra Marathon page (2026 rules), accessed 21 October 2026; Two Oceans Marathon, road closures, getting to the start and parking (2025), accessed 21 October 2026; Marathon Tours & Travel, Two Oceans Marathon 2027 (official international partner), accessed 21 October 2026; Runner’s World South Africa, Increased entry capacity for the 2027 Two Oceans Marathon, 2 July 2026; Marathon Handbook, Two Oceans Marathon will let in 7,000 more runners starting in 2027, 30 June 2026; Time Out Cape Town, Two Oceans Marathon back on in 2026, 25 August 2025; iRunFar, 2026 Two Oceans Marathon results, 11 April 2026; Cape Town Tourism, Two Oceans Marathon 2026 road closures and travel information, 9 April 2026; US State Department, South Africa travel advisory and country information, accessed 21 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief