The 2026 Comrades Marathon will offer more than R8.2 million in prize money and incentives, with the men's and women's winners each set to receive R925,000 and the possibility of earning more than R2.3 million through performance bonuses.
The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has announced a total prize purse of more than R8.2 million for the 2026 Comrades Marathon, representing a 10% increase on the previous year's rewards.
The 99th edition of the iconic ultra-marathon takes place on Sunday, 14 June, with a total of R5.79 million available across the top 10 finishers, age categories, team awards, and prizes for the leading South African and KwaZulu-Natal athletes.
The men's and women's winners will each receive R925,000, while second place will earn R464,000 and third place R334,000. Prize money for the top 10 finishers includes a Cell C top-up, increasing payouts by just over 30%, while the first 10 men and women will also receive gold medals.
An additional R2.42 million has been allocated to record-breaking performances and incentive bonuses, taking the overall prize pool to R8,210,400.
