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At 22,000, the entry cap for the 2026 race is slightly lower than the 24,000 of the 2025 race, following the CMA’s decision to reduce the size of the field to ensure the safety of runners and provide them with a smooth race experience, while also easing demands on some operational aspects of the race. “This reduction, as well as the schedule of the entry process, was announced at our official race launch in early October, shared with the media, and posted on our own website and social media platforms. We also asked clubs to help their runners with the entry process, as we knew there would be an increased interest in the 2026 race as we build up to the 100^th edition in 2027. Still, closing entries within an unprecedented 10 hours of opening has completely rewritten the record books for the Comrades Marathon,” says CMA General Manager Alain Dalais.

The total number of entries taken now stands at 22,399, and Dalais explains why the number is slightly higher than the advertised entry cap. “Due to the massive demand for entries, we had a large number of runners who were busy submitting their entries when the entry cap was reached. The CMA has always stood for inclusion and fairness, and we decided to accept those entrants who were already in the final phase of the entry process.”

For the record, of the 22,399 entries, 2,594 were claimed by Green Number Club members and CMA Members in the ‘early bird’ entry window from 27 October to 2 November, and a further 19,805 entries were snapped up within 10 hours of the general entries window opening on 3 November. On this, Dalais has a word of advice for runners who would like to be sure of securing an entry for the 2027 race: “This year we opened the early bird entry window to CMA Members for the first time, and a significant number of them made the most of that opportunity. We therefore urge more runners to become members, which not only gives you a better chance of securing an entry in the big centenary celebration race in 2027, but also gives you the opportunity to become more involved and have a say in the event.”

Breaking Down the Numbers

When one compares the 2026 entrant data to that of the 2025 race, it is clear that in spite of the slightly reduced cap and the unprecedented speed at which entries were snapped up, the make-up of the field is largely the same. (Note that 2026 data is current, so many entrants must still qualify to run next year’s race, and there will be changes to the final stats after the substitution window in March/April, whereas the 2025 data is the final make-up of the field after the qualification window had closed and substitutions had been processed. This still provides a good comparison.)

Running for Charity

In 2025, the Comrades Marathon raised a record R8,012,438 for the six official charities that formed part of the 2025 Comrades Marathon AmaBeadiBeadi Charity Drive, bringing the total raised by this campaign since 1996 to over R84-million. The lion’s share of this remarkable 2025 sum, R6,174,151, was raised through the dedicated efforts of runners on the official Race4Charity platform, by asking family, friends and colleagues to make donations to their fundraising efforts, including sponsoring their race kilometres. The CMA is pleased to see that 482 runners in the 2026 field have already signed up to Race4Charity, and over R500,000 has already been raised.

“We’re challenging every one of our 2026 entrants to run for Race4Charity and help us set a new record for funds raised,” says Race Director Sue Forge. “These contributions make a real difference to support the incredible work of our official charities in uplifting communities, promoting healthier lifestyles, and protecting our environment. Running for charity adds a deeper sense of purpose to the Comrades Marathon journey – it keeps you motivated through training and helps you push through the toughest parts of the race, knowing you’re running for something bigger than yourself.”

Qualification and Substitutions

Runners are reminded that they will have one last chance to secure an entry for the 2026 Comrades Marathon through the Comrades Marathon Substitution Process. The window for withdrawals will run from 16 to 30 March 2026, followed by the window for securing the substitute entry, running from 1 to 15 April 2026. The athlete substituting in will pay the full 2026 race entry fee to the Comrades Marathon Association, while the withdrawing athlete will be charged an administrative fee of 15% of their entry fee and will thus be refunded 85% of their entry fee. No money or vouchers will be exchanged between athletes.

“We will share more information on the process to be followed closer to the time, and urge those runners who would still like to secure an entry to be ready when the substitution window opens,” says Forge. “Runners should also keep an eye on our CMA channels for training advice and dates of our various workshops, all designed to help you get ready to run the Ultimate Human Race.”