Will there be an 8th marathon major

So here's the thing about the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Right now you've got six races that everyone knows — Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. People have been whispering about adding a seventh or eighth for years. It's not new speculation. When Tokyo joined in 2013 the series went from five to six and everyone thought, well, maybe more are coming. But it's complicated. Really complicated. The official line as of late 2024? No immediate plans to expand. But the world of road running doesn't sit still.

What are the official criteria for becoming a World Marathon Major?

The folks at AbbottWMM don't just let any race in. They've got a checklist and it's pretty demanding. It's not just about having thousands of people show up.

• Elite Field Quality: You need the best runners in the world. Not just a few. Deep fields of international elites that keep coming back year after year.
• Organizational Excellence: Everything has to be top-notch. Course measurement, timing, medical support, athlete services. No cutting corners.
• Global Reach and Media Impact: This can't be some local thing. You need serious international broadcast and digital coverage. The whole world has to watch.
• Community and Charity Engagement: They want to see real impact locally. Charity fundraising, sustainability efforts. It matters.
• Financial Stability and Growth: Show me the money. Long-term financial health, solid sponsorship, growing your participant base and global profile.

Which marathons are considered the top candidates for an 8th major?

There's no official shortlist. Nobody's saying "these are the ones." But some names keep popping up in conversations. The strongest contenders are:

1. Sydney Marathon (Australia)

Sydney's the furthest along. They're in AbbottWMM's "Candidate Race" program, which is basically a multi-year audition. They've hit some big milestones — hosted a World Athletics Label Road Race, grown their international numbers like crazy. If it happens, it'd be the first major in Oceania. But here's the thing: the evaluation takes years. No decision before 2025 or 2026. And honestly? Sydney's looking more like the 7th major than the 8th.

2. Cape Town Marathon (South Africa)

Cape Town's another candidate race and they've got something unique going for them — it's the only marathon in Africa with a World Athletics Gold Label. The course is stunning. They're big on social impact and conservation. If the series expands to 8, Cape Town's a prime contender.

3. Singapore Marathon (Singapore)

This one's got Southeast Asia covered. Now a World Athletics Gold Label event. The Singapore government backs it, there's serious commercial money behind it. The night-time race concept is pretty distinctive too. But they're a step behind Sydney and Cape Town in the formal evaluation.

4. Shanghai Marathon (China)

Shanghai's got the highest designation — World Athletics Platinum Label. Over 30,000 runners, massive domestic media coverage. But internationally? Their global profile isn't quite there yet compared to the current majors. Long-term possibility though, especially with China's growing presence in global sports.

What are the biggest challenges to adding an 8th major?

This isn't just about picking a new race and calling it a day. There's some real headaches involved:

• Dilution of Brand Prestige: That Six Star finisher medal? It's exclusive. Powerful. Add more races and you risk making it feel less special. Less of an achievement.
• Logistical and Calendar Congestion: The six majors are spread across spring and fall. You need a date that doesn't clash with existing races or big events like the Olympics or World Championships. Not easy.
• Geographic Balance: Right now it's three in North America, two in Europe, one in Asia. Adding Oceania (Sydney) or Africa (Cape Town) makes sense geographically. Adding another Asian race? Maybe not so much.
• Commercial Agreements: The six majors have complex sponsorship deals and revenue-sharing arrangements. Adding a new one means renegotiating everything. That takes time and nobody's happy about it.

Expert Insights and Data Table

Industry people are split on this. Some say the series will eventually hit 8 or even 10 majors — new markets, more money, growing the global running business. Others think the "Six Star" thing is too valuable to mess with. A lot depends on how the candidate race program goes. If Sydney gets in as the 7th, that opens the door for Cape Town or Singapore as the 8th.

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