Shanghai Marathon passes stage one of AbbottWMM candidate assessment

March 10, 2026

Chinese race must secure two passes to join the Majors

 ABBOTTWMM CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT

• Chinese candidate race progresses to second stage of assessment
• Race must pass two consecutive evaluations to join series
• Next evaluation in December 2026
• Nine Star Medal planned as next milestone
• Six Star Medal to stay for completion of original Six Majors

March 10, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE – ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS (AbbottWMM) is delighted to announce that the Shanghai Marathon will now proceed to the second stage of the candidacy process in its attempt to join the series.

The marathon was assessed for the second time in November 2025 and met all the criteria set by the Abbott World Marathon Majors in order to pass stage one.

Shanghai will now be required to meet the criteria for a second consecutive year when it stages its next marathon on December 6, 2026.

If it is successful, the race would join the Majors in 2027.

“We have seen a fantastic level of commitment from the Shanghai team throughout their candidacy,” said AbbottWMM CEO, Dawna Stone.

“Their hard work has now put them firmly on the pathway to success and our evaluation team was very impressed with the event they witnessed in November. We have high hopes that the race will continue on its promising trajectory and make their dream a reality.”

Xu Bin, Director General of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, stated：“Shanghai Marathon stands as one of the city’s most influential sport events. We will spare no effort in supporting the race to reach even higher standards, and we look forward to officially joining the Abbott WMM family in the near future. Through top-tier international sport events, we will accelerate Shanghai’s development into a globally renowned sports city.”

Zheng Yuanhu,Chairman of Donghao Lansheng Group,stated: “From World Athletics Platinum Label Race to Abbott World Marathon Majors Candidate Race, Shanghai Marathon has consistently pursued excellence and refinement, always surpassing its own limits. We sincerely thank the World Marathon Majors for their recognition and encouragement, which will fuel our drive forward. Moving forward, we will spare no effort in our pursuit of excellence, striving to officially join the World Marathon Majors family as soon as possible. We will live up to expectations and honor our passion.”

Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Senior Vice President Active Lifestyle at Infront, added: “Marathons around the world continue to attract growing interest, and the momentum in Asia – especially in China – is remarkable. The Shanghai Marathon’s progress through the Abbott World Marathon Majors evaluation phase underlines both the enormous appetite for high‑quality running experiences in the region and the strong commitment from the city and its stakeholders. We’re very pleased to closely support the Shanghai team on this journey side by side with the teams from World Marathon Majors. We believe the event has everything it needs to become one of the most internationally recognized marathons in the future with its own unique positioning in the World Marathon Majors calendar, adding value to the global running community while also promoting a healthy and active lifestyle in China.”

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon also requires one more pass of the AbbottWMM criteria to join the series. The race, which was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions in October 2025, takes place on May 2026.

If both races are successful in their forthcoming assessments, the series will comprise a total of nine races in 2027 and the Nine Star medal will be introduced.

FAQS

What will happen to the Six Star Medal?

The Six Star program remains unchanged. The Six Star medal will continue to be awarded to runners who complete the original six Majors.

How will the Nine Star Medal be awarded?

If the remaining two races in the candidacy process are successful, the earliest the Nine Star medal will begin is 2027. The plan is for this to be awarded at the end of the marathons in the same way the Six Star medal is awarded.

What is the collectible range?

To help commemorate every runner’s journey and race achievements, AbbottWMM introduced a commemorative coin for each race. Custom displays can be purchased to showcase the runner’s achievements from two races to all seven. The full range is available here.

-Ends-

For more information:

Danny Coyle: press@wmmajors.com

About AbbottWMM

The Abbott World Marathon Majors series consists of seven of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world: the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, TCS London Marathon, TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon.

AbbottWMM hosts a points competition across this series for elite open division and wheelchair athletes, as well as the Six Star program, which rewards any runner who finished all six with the Six Star Medal.

The Age Group World Rankings rewards athletes aged 40+ with the opportunity to compete against their peers for a place at the Age Group World Championship, and the Global Run Club provides a virtual running platform for the community to participate in challenges across a range of distances.

For more information visit worldmarathonmajors.com

About the Shanghai Marathon
Shanghai Marathon is the first World Athletics Platinum Label Marathon in China and the first marathon named after the city of Shanghai. More than 150,000 people registering for the Shanghai Marathon every year.

Located in the east of China, at the mouth of the Yangtze River and facing the Pacific Ocean, Shanghai covers an area of 6340.5 square kilometers, with 16 districts and a resident population of over 24 million. Shanghai is the leader of China’s reform and opening up and an international city with profound connections to the world. Together with the neighboring provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui, the Yangtze River Delta, which is one of the most active regions in China in terms of economic development, demonstrates the highest degree of openness, and the strongest capacity for innovation.