In short
Comrades Marathon 2028: lottery entries should be accepted from Wednesday, September 8, 2027 to Tuesday, September 21, 2027, starting at 10:00 a.m., Johannesburg time. Results are expected on Wednesday, September 22, 2027. Race date: June 2028 (2027: June 13, 100th edition).
Estimated date: the 2027 public ballot opened on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 10 am and closed on Tuesday 22 September at 4:30 pm, with the draw on 23 September. We assume the same calendar in 2027.To be confirmed once officially announced.
What are the 2028 lottery dates?
- Today
- Sept. 8, 2027 Lottery opens10:00 a.m., Johannesburg time
- Sept. 21, 2027 Lottery entries close
- Sept. 22, 2027 Lottery results
- June 2028 Race day estimated dateStart time not announced yet
What do you book, at what price, with what chances?
| What you book | A spot in the lottery for a bib |
| Your odds in the lottery | ~34% (2027 edition) 42,802 applicants for 14,519 lottery places. Public ballot for the 2027 edition. The 28,283 unsuccessful runners stay on the list for released places.Source: Press (allAfrica, September 2026). |
| Price | R4,500 for international runners, about €220 (2026 edition)Price taken from the source, with its year. |
Do you need a qualifying time for the Comrades Marathon?
Yes, for everyone: you must have run an official marathon in under 5 hours between June 15, 2026 and May 3, 2027 for the 2027 Comrades. You can enter first and submit your time until May 3.
Qualifying times for the Comrades Marathon 2027
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| All ages | 5:00:00 | 5:00:00 |
28,000 places. Prices: R1,200 (South Africa), R2,000 (rest of Africa), R4,500 (international).
Source: Comrades Marathon. Checked on October 26, 2026. Times for the other marathons.
What do you need to enter?
- Finish an official marathon in under 5 hours before early May (you can enter first and qualify afterward).
To be met before you can enter. Double-check the official rules.
How do you enter, step by step?
- Create your Easyreg accountIt is the Comrades entry site. Do it before September 8, 2027.
- Enter the public ballot from September 8, 2027 to September 21, 2027From 10 am on the first day to 4:30 pm on the last (South Africa time). Runners with 9 medals or more enter earlier, in late August.
- Results on September 22, 2027Selected: pay R4,500 (international), in one go or half now and half by 31 January (2027 edition).
- Not selected? Stay on the listUnsuccessful runners stay in the ballot for released places. Outside South Africa, the official tour operator sells guaranteed places.
Don't miss the date
Add the upcoming dates to your calendar: your phone reminds you 1 week before the first one, then the day before each, and on the morning of results day.
The next marathons to open
The marathon registrations and lotteries that open next, in order.
Frequently asked questions
Comrades Marathon 2028: what is the opening date?
Lottery opens on Wednesday, September 8, 2027 at 10:00 a.m., Johannesburg time. Closes on Tuesday, September 21, 2027. Estimated date: the 2027 public ballot opened on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 10 am and closed on Tuesday 22 September at 4:30 pm, with the draw on 23 September. We assume the same calendar in 2027. To be confirmed.
How much does Comrades Marathon entry cost?
R4,500 for an international runner, R2,000 for the rest of Africa and R1,200 for South Africa (2027 edition), plus Easyreg fees. Payment possible in two instalments.
How do you get a Comrades place without the public ballot?
Outside South Africa, the official tour operator (Marathon Tours & Travel) sells guaranteed places. Past finishers with 9 medals or more enter before the ballot.
What is the distance of the 2027 Comrades Marathon?
About 91 km downhill, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, for the 100th edition. The exact distance will be given once the course is measured.
What time do you need to run Comrades?
An official marathon in under 5 hours, run between June 15, 2026 and May 3, 2027 for the 2027 race.