In a ground-breaking announcement by World Athletics, Cape Town has been named as the host for the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships – the first time the event has been awarded to Africa and the second time a senior World Athletics Championships has been awarded to South Africa, following the World Cross Country Championships in Stellenbosch in 1996.
Following a successful joint application by Golazo South Africa, Athletics South Africa and Western Province Athletics, Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, will provide a stunning location for the championships, which will take place from 6-10 October 2027.
Athletics South Africa President James Moloi welcomed the announcement with great pride and optimism, stating: “We are immensely proud that Cape Town has been selected as the host city for the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships — a groundbreaking moment not only for Athletics South Africa but for the entire continent.
“This is a strong testament to the capability of South Africa to deliver world-class events in spectacular locations. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Western Province Athletics and all our partners, particularly Golazo South Africa, whose tireless efforts were instrumental in securing this bid. Their commitment and passion truly showcased what South Africa has to offer.
“We are confident that Cape Town will once again deliver an exceptional global event — one that leaves lasting memories for athletes, fans, and stakeholders from around the world. This event will also serve to inspire the next generation of South African and African trail runners, giving them the chance to witness the very best in mountain and trail competition right on their doorstep.
“As Athletics South Africa, we look forward to working with all partners to ensure that this historic championship sets a new benchmark and reinforces Africa’s place on the global athletics map.”
Cape Town, known as the gateway to Africa, has a proven track record of staging international distance running events, including the 1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Cape Town Marathon, the Two Oceans Marathon – one of the most scenic ultra-marathons in the world – and Ultra-trail Cape Town.
The organisers hope that this championship will cement the continent’s status as a world-class host for endurance sports while also inspiring a new generation of African trail runners.
“It is always exciting when a major athletics event is staged in a new continent for the first time, and this is no exception,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. “Cape Town hosting the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships marks not only an exciting opportunity for the local area, but also for the sport as a whole.
This will be the fifth global athletics event held in Africa within a 10-year period, and I have every faith that Cape Town will prove to be spectacular hosts of these championships.”
The Championship provides the perfect opportunity for runners from around the world to experience the continent’s natural beauty and rich culture, all from the vantage point of one of the most recognised natural wonders on Earth. And with Cape Town being voted the World’s Best City for 2025 by Time Out, the Championship will be a must for family, friends and fans to witness the action close at hand.
Bob Verbeeck, CEO of Golazo, the delivery partner for the championships was equally delighted. “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the opportunity to host these World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2027,” said Verbeeck..
“Following events like the Diamond League, the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet in Nairobi, and the European Road Running Championships in Belgium – along with many other athletics and (trail) running events – this marks not only an exciting new milestone for our company, but also for Cape Town and South Africa.
“It also represents an important step forward for Golazo as we open a new office in Cape Town around this time, paving the way for many more exciting running and sporting events in the near future.”
Cape Town’s world-class mountain trails offer a variety of terrains, from rugged, technical paths to fast descents, creating a diverse and challenging experience for runners of all levels. One of the biggest rewards will come in the form of the unparalleled panoramic views of the city, the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding mountains.
The World Mountain Running Championships began in 1985 in San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy, and became an annual fixture, while 2007 saw the first World Trail Championships in Huntsville, Texas, USA. The two events merged in 2021 to become the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships and the event shifted to a biennial format with the first edition held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which was postponed by a year and held in November 2022.
The 2023 edition was held in Innsbruck and Stubai, in Austria, while this year’s championships will take place in Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain, between 25-28 September.
There are four senior championship races with individual and team medals awarded in each:
Mountain Running
- Classic ‘up and down’ (typically over 12 – 18km of runnable terrain)
- Uphill (4-8km and climbing between 800m and 1000m)
Trail Running
- Short trail (35 – 45km)
- Long trail (75 – 100km).
Along with an U20 championship mountain running race, there will also be mass participation and side events, allowing non-elite runners to experience the thrill of the event.
It is estimated that about 1500 runners from more than 80 nations will compete in the championship races in 2027, while more than 2000 runners will take to the start line for the mass participation events.
African athletes excelled in the mountain running events at the first two championships, with Ugandan athlete Samuel Kibet holding off Kenyan Patrick Kipngeno in the men’s ‘up and down’ race in Thailand to win by 10 seconds. Ugandans, Timothy Toroitich, Leonard Chemonges and Eliud Cherop, followed close behind in positions third to fifth. Uganda took gold in the team competition.
Ugandan Rebecca Cheptegei won the women’s up and down race, almost 30 seconds ahead of her compatriot, Anne Chemengich.
In the 2023 Championship, African athletes dominated the men’s Uphill race, with Kipngeno racing away to win ahead of Uganda’s Levi Kiprotich and Kenya’s Josephat Kiprotich and were again to the fore in the 15km Mountain Running Classic. Ugandan Leonard Chemutai held off Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago to claim the title.
Southern and northern African trail athletes have also excelled at the highest level of the sport, with athletes such as Ryan Sandes and Toni McCann of South Africa and Emily Hawgood of Zimbabwe having won against the world’s best.
And arguably the best trail athlete on the continent, Morocco’s ‘Flying Camel’, Elhousine Elazzaoui, was voted the world’s top trail athlete for 2024 and currently tops the Golden Trail World Series table.
The Championship presents an ideal opportunity to grow the codes of mountain and trail running in South Africa and throughout the continent, ensuring the integration of and support for the codes within World Athletics governance structures and its member federation, Athletics South Africa (ASA).
The World Mountain Running Association, the International Association of Ultrarunners and the International Trail Running Association have worked closely with World Athletics to stage the first three combined championships and issued a joint statement in support of Cape Town ’27.
“We are delighted to bring the fourth World Mountain and Trail Running Championships to Africa,” the joint statement emphasised. “The sensational views of Cape Town and Table Mountain will form a fitting backdrop to the WMTRC ‘27 and we are sure it will build on the forthcoming WMTRC 25 in Canfranc, Spain.
“Cape Town has had plenty of success from being the host of a number of prestigious international events and we are looking forward to enjoying the races on Table Mountain and the hospitality of the Cape. The standard of the bids for the event was very high and we also thank all those who took the time to submit their interest in hosting the event.”
Leading South African trail athletes expressed their delight at the award of the championships to Cape Town.
“I think this can be huge for trail running in South Africa,” said leading adidas TERREX athlete, Kane Reilly. “(This would include) both for getting wider interest in the sport and in attracting more athletes from different backgrounds into trail running. There are massive positives.”
Doyen of South African ultra-trail over the past two decades, Ryan Sandes, was equally enthusiastic. “This is such great news for the sport of trail running in South Africa – and an incredible opportunity to showcase Cape Town and some of my home trails.
“I’m incredibly excited about it. I’ve never personally represented South Africa at a world champs but this has got me thinking. If I could make the team for Cape Town it would be an incredible opportunity.”
