Cape Town’s biggest road race weekend has officially been called off.
Organisers of the 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K have cancelled Sunday’s event due to severe weather conditions forecast across the Western Cape, following consultations with City authorities, local officials, and safety teams.
According to the latest weather reports, a cold front is expected to make landfall over the Western Cape on Sunday morning, followed by a second cold front on Monday. The forecast includes disruptive rainfall, strong interior and gale force coastal winds, as well as cold to very cold, wet and windy conditions across the region.
Expected impacts include flooding of roads and settlements (formal and informal), as well as dangerous and difficult driving conditions.
In a statement released, Dezroy Poole, race director of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, said they’ve been closely monitoring the weather predictions and engaging daily with the authorities and the appointed safety officials in the lead-up to race weekend.
“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. We extend our sincere appreciation to every stakeholder for their understanding and ongoing support of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” he said.
Weighing in Leonora DeSouza-Zilwa, director of events and film at the City of CapeTown stated: “With the severe weather warnings issued for Cape Town this weekend posing a serious safety risk to participants, as well as impacting public infrastructure, mobility, essential services, and most importantly the safety of all stakeholders, responsible decision-making becomes critical.
“While we understand the anticipation from thousands of participants and the broader running community, for the City of Cape Town, safety at events hosted in our city is always a priority, and responsible decision-making becomes critical.”
Following this, Absa said they have decided to offer participants a choice between a full refund or free entry to the 2027 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K.
Absa stated that:
- Over the course of this weekend, all registered runners will receive communication via WhatsApp and email newsletter outlining the refund process and next steps
- Participants are encouraged to follow the instructions provided in these communications to proceed with their selected option.
- The 2026 Race Pack Collection at the Grand Parade will continue as scheduled. Runners are encouraged to collect their race packs tomorrow, Saturday, from 9am to 5pm.
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