IRONMAN has announced an evolution of its South African race calendar for 2027, with IRONMAN South Africa moving to a new home in Mossel Bay.
Mossel Bay becomes only the third IRONMAN host destination in South Africa and represents the first new full-distance race destination in 21 years across the country.
Alongside the introduction of the ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa Mossel Bay African Championship, the ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay African Championship will return to the portfolio. ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Durban remains in its traditional place on the calendar.
According to IRONMAN, these changes reflect recent international triathlon participation trends while giving athletes the opportunity to earn the title of being an IRONMAN athlete in a new destination.
In 2026, over 49,000 athletes reportedly signed up for an IRONMAN 70.3 race as first-timers across Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Amongst South Africans, there has been a 19% increase in IRONMAN 70.3 participation since 2023, with 54% of South Africans racing the format in 2026 doing so for the first time. The organiser has added eight new races across Europe, Middle East, and Africa for the 2026 season.
The ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay race will become an African Championship. It will be the first IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon to hold the regional championship distinction on the African continent, joining regional championships in Europe, North America, Latin America, and Middle East.
This announcement builds on more than two decades of racing heritage in Nelson Mandela Bay, where ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa took place for 21 years. Over its 21-year history, the event has delivered significant economic impact, contributing an estimated R638.5m since 2017 to local economies. More than 22,000 athletes have taken part in the event since 2012, including those racing for the IRONMAN4theKidz Charity Trust.
Through the charity, the event has raised over R43m to support community initiatives and projects across the country. These include the purchase of a 60-seater bus for Heatherbank that does six trips a day to transport children to school, the construction of the Early Birds Day Care for 30 children, and the building of a swimming pool at Khayalethu for water safety training.
- ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay African Championship – January 31, 2027
- ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa Mossel Bay African Championship – April 18, 2027
- ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Durban – June 6, 2027
The ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay race weekend will continue to include the ISUZU 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay, ISUZU Corporate Triathlon Challenge, and IRONKIDS South Africa events.
With the shift taking IRONMAN South Africa to Mossel Bay, the swim start and finish line will be at Santos beach and the De-Bakke resort precinct. The bike course will showcase the scenery of the Garden Route and Mossel Bay coastline, combining open roads, rolling terrain, and coastal vistas. The run course takes athletes on a marathon through coastal and urban landscapes, including waterfront areas, historic landmarks, and coastal viewpoints.
Sam Brawn, Regional Director at IRONMAN, said “This is a defining moment for triathlon in South Africa. By introducing a new full-distance venue for the first time in a generation, while embracing the growth of IRONMAN 70.3 racing, we are creating more opportunities for athletes to compete, experience iconic destinations, and be part of the sport’s continued evolution.
“Together, the race changes represent a deliberate strategic evolution, expanding the full-distance footprint while creating more accessible pathways into the sport.”
Thomas Veje Olsen, Managing Director of Europe, Middle-East and Africa at IRONMAN, said “South Africa has long been a cornerstone of our presence in the region, offering world-class racing, passionate communities and exceptional host destinations. This evolution of the calendar underscores our commitment to investing in the long-term growth of the sport in South Africa and creating sustainable opportunities for athletes, partners and host communities for years to come.”
Iviwe Poti, Senior Manager: Strategic Communications at ISUZU Motors South Africa, added “The announcement of a new IRONMAN South Africa host venue marks an exciting new chapter for the sport, and we’re proud that ISUZU is part of this journey. A new location gives athletes the opportunity to experience a different side of South Africa, embrace a fresh challenge, and create unforgettable memories in a new setting.
“It’s inspiring to see the event continue to grow, while showcasing the incredible beauty and diversity of our country to participants and supporters from around the world. We look forward to seeing this new destination become another iconic stop on the IRONMAN calendar.”
The update sees the South African race calendar return to the timing of January–April–June. The ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay African Championship and ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Durban will both be qualifiers to the 2027 Precision Fuel & Hydration IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, USA. The ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa Mossel Bay African Championship will serve as a qualifier to the 2027 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi.
General registration for ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa Mossel Bay and ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Nelson Mandela Bay will open on August 12, 2026, while ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Durban will open on September 2, 2026.
The IRONMAN Group operates a portfolio of mass-participation sports events, including the IRONMAN Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon Series, 5150 Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series, IRONKIDS, the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, City2Surf, UTMB World Series events, and Epic Series mountain bike races.
