The global trail running caravan will crest a new summit and Africa will be at the peak of the story. Cape Town, with Table Mountain as its towering sentinel, will become the first African city to host the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, from 6 to 10 October 2027.
Some 1,200 elite athletes from more than 80 nations will toe the line, with a limited-entry race offering local and visiting recreational runners a taste of the same lung-burning ascents and technical descents that have made Table Mountain and Lion’s Head legendary playgrounds.
We are so excited for the mountain and trail running world to descend on Cape Town in 2027 for the very first African staging of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
There is surely no better backdrop to this prestigious event than our very own Wonder of the Natural World. But runners should not be fooled by her beauty. Table Mountain’s rugged trails and steep elevations will pose a stern challenge. I cannot wait to welcome this event and show the world why the Mother City is rightly considered one of the mass participation sports capitals of the world.
Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, likened the event to “the mother of all races in the Mother City,” adding:
Cape Town offers breathtaking beauty, diverse terrains, and perfect weather, but it’s also about our warm spirit. Crossing the finish line here is always a moment to celebrate.
Behind the successful bid was a coalition of endurance-minded partners: Golazo South Africa, Athletics South Africa (ASA), and Western Province Athletics (WPA).
WPA President Farouk Meyer called the win “a proud milestone” that would “energise our athletics community, boost participation, and create a positive ripple effect for Cape Town’s tourism economy. This is an opportunity to showcase the depth of talent and passion in our province.”
Golazo CEO Bob Verbeeck sees the event as a “flying start in South Africa,” promising to leverage experience from global meets while launching new running, walking, and cycling events that will frame the Cape region as “a paradise for active sports enthusiasts.”
ASA President James Moloi said the championship would “set a new benchmark and reinforce Africa’s place on the global athletics map,” while Western Cape’s Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, called it proof the province is “fast becoming the hub for major sporting events” that “boost the local economy and create jobs.”
For World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, Cape Town’s selection signals a landmark moment:
It is always exciting when a major athletics event is staged in a new continent for the first time. I have every faith Cape Town will prove spectacular hosts.
The leadership of the sport’s three governing associations agreed:
The sensational views of Cape Town and Table Mountain will form a fitting backdrop… We look forward to enjoying the races and the hospitality of the Cape.
Born from the 1985 World Mountain Running Championships and merged with the World Trail Championships in 2021, this event is now held biennially, with four senior championship races: classic, uphill, short trail, and long trail, plus U20 and mass participation races.
In 2023, the races snaked through Innsbruck and Stubai; in 2025, they will wind across Canfranc in Spain.
Come October 2027, Cape Town will write its own chapter. The starting gun will echo off ancient rock faces, and the world’s finest runners will chase glory along trails carved by wind, water, and centuries. This is proof that in the sport of endurance, every summit reached is just the start of the next climb.
