By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Sourced
The organisers of the 2026 have officially cancelled Sunday’s highly anticipated race following severe weather warnings issued for Cape Town and the broader Western Cape region.
The event, which was scheduled to take place on 10 May 2026, was called off after extensive consultations between race organisers, the City of Cape Town, local authorities, and appointed safety officials.
According to the latest forecasts, a powerful cold front is expected to make landfall over the Western Cape on Sunday morning, bringing disruptive rainfall, gale-force coastal winds, and extremely cold and wet weather conditions across the province. A second cold front is also expected to follow on Monday.
Authorities warned that the weather conditions could result in widespread flooding, dangerous driving conditions, disruptions to essential services, and significant risks to public safety.
Race Director Dezroy Poole said the decision was made with the safety of participants and stakeholders as the primary concern.
“Our Operations Team has been closely monitoring the weather predictions and engaging daily with the City of Cape Town authorities, local authorities, and the appointed safety officials in the lead-up to race weekend,” said Poole.
“This decision was not taken lightly, especially considering the anticipation surrounding the event and the commitment shown by our runners, sponsors and partners. However, under the expected conditions, we could not guarantee a safe and enjoyable race experience for all involved.”
Leonora DeSouza-Zilwa emphasised that the city’s priority remains the protection of lives and infrastructure during severe weather events.
“While we understand the anticipation from thousands of participants and the broader running community, safety at events hosted in our city is always a priority, and responsible decision-making becomes critical,” she said.
In recognition of the disappointment many runners will face after months of preparation, Absa Group announced that all registered participants will be offered a choice between a full refund or complimentary entry into the 2027 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K.
Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer Sydney Mbhele said the wellbeing of runners and communities guided the final decision.
“While we share in the disappointment of thousands of runners who were looking forward to this event, safety had to come first. The decision to cancel was not an easy one, but we are delighted to offer our participants a choice between a full refund or free entry to the 2027 race,” said Mbhele.
Despite the cancellation of the race itself, organisers confirmed that Race Pack Collection at the Grand Parade will continue as planned. Participants are encouraged to collect their official race packs and merchandise on Friday between 09h00 and 19h00, and on Saturday from 09h00 to 17h00.
Registered runners will receive detailed communication via WhatsApp and email outlining the refund process and next steps. Organisers also encouraged participants to follow the official race social media platforms for real-time updates.
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series remains one of South Africa’s premier mass participation road running events, attracting thousands of athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and social runners annually across multiple cities including Cape Town, Durban, Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Gqeberha.
This year’s cancellation marks one of the few weather-related disruptions in the history of the series, underlining the severity of the forecast conditions expected to impact the Western Cape this weekend.
