The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is pleased to announce that it has seen a record percentage of 95.37% of entrants confirm their successful qualification for the 2026 edition of the Ultimate Human Race on Sunday 14 June. This will be the 99th edition overall of the race, and the 50th edition of the Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

The unprecedented demand for entries for the 2026 race saw the full quota of 22,000 available entries sell out in less than 10 hours when general entries opened in November 2025. Following the Substitution Process in March-April this year, a total of 2,444 runners were successful in obtaining one of the substitution entries made available by withdrawing runners. Now, with the 4 May deadline having passed for runners to submit their qualifying times, update their profiles and complete the mandatory medical and transport questionnaires, the CMA can report that 21,633 runners have qualified for the 2026 race.

This means that the 2026 race has the highest percentage in the past decade-plus in terms of successful qualifiers from amongst the entrants – up from last year’s 93.96% – and continues the trend in recent years of an increasing percentage of runners successfully qualifying.

“We are thrilled by the exceptionally high percentage of successfully qualified runners for this year’s event. Our Entries Office team worked tirelessly in the lead-up to the 4 May deadline, providing ongoing communication, support and guidance to assist runners in completing all the necessary requirements within the stipulated timelines,” says Race Director Sue Forge.

“Our objective throughout the process was to ensure that runners who had secured an entry were able to successfully confirm their place on the start line. Achieving one of the highest qualification success rates in the recent history of the race is a reflection not only of the dedication and commitment of our Comrades Marathon staff, but also of the positive response and cooperation shown by the runners throughout the process.”

Forge adds that the CMA team has been particularly encouraged by the way runners embraced the additional requirements introduced as part of this year’s entry process, especially the completion of the medical and transport questionnaires. “This information is critically important, as it ensures that our race-day medical teams have access to the correct medical details for each runner in the event of an emergency, while also enabling more effective planning and coordination of transport and operational logistics. These are significant advancements for the event, and we extend our sincere appreciation to all runners for their cooperation, commitment and enthusiasm in helping us strengthen the overall race experience and safety measures for 2026.”

SOME DISAPPOINTMENT FOLLOWING ENTRY CLOSURE
Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented high demand for entries, some runners missed out on an entry this year, and there were a few complaints about the introduction of the ballot system. “The CMA continuously updated runners on all official entry processes and opportunities to secure an entry for the 2026 event. The ballot system was explained in all of our communications, and the substitution ballot process was clearly communicated as the final opportunity to obtain an entry,” says Forge.

“All entrants were required to meet the official qualifying criteria and complete their profiles, including medical and transport information, by the published deadline of 16h30 on 4 May 2026. These deadlines and requirements were communicated extensively throughout the entry process, and any runner who did not complete their entry profile unfortunately forfeited their entry, in accordance with the published race rules and entry conditions.”

Forge adds that entries for the 2026 race are now officially closed, with no additional entry or substitution opportunities to be made available. “The CMA will not be reopening entries, reallocating entries between runners, or accommodating requests outside of the official processes. The event’s safety planning, medical preparedness, route management, transport logistics and overall race operations are all structured around strict operational timelines.”

“We fully appreciate and acknowledge the disappointment felt by runners who were unable to secure an entry, particularly given the deep passion and commitment that so many runners have for the Comrades Marathon. We sincerely hope that those runners will return and try again in 2027, as we celebrate the historic Centenary edition of this extraordinary race. We would also like to reassure all aspiring entrants that participation in the 2026 event will not influence eligibility or participation opportunities for 2027, ensuring that every runner will once again have an equal opportunity to be part of the landmark 100th edition.”