Hollywood Athletics Club Manager Brett Goodwin.
Image: Supplied
South Africa’s most iconic road race, the Hollywoodbets 10km, is back in 2026 and promises a bigger, better experience for runners and spectators alike.
The Hollywood Athletics Club recently launched the event, announcing increased prize money, an enhanced runner experience, and major digital upgrades designed to transform race registration.
The Hollywood Athletics Club is known as a vibrant community of passionate runners dedicated to fostering collaboration and promoting fitness.
Its vision is clear: to unite members of the Hollywoodbets team while encouraging broader participation in the exhilarating world of road running.
This year, both male and female winners of the Hollywoodbets 10km will receive a cash prize of R40,000.
Additionally, prize money will extend to the top ten finishers, including various age categories, highlighting the event's commitment to uplifting the athletic community.
With categories available for runners aged up to 70-plus, the race focuses on rewarding elite performance while supporting participants at all levels.
Brett Goodwin, Manager of the Hollywood Athletics Club, expressed his enthusiasm during the launch event, reflecting on the rapid growth and national appeal of the race.
“We are excited about how much the Hollywoodbets 10km has grown. Each year, we see more runners joining us from Durban and across the country.
This year, we are expecting 15,000 entries in Durban and 10,000 in Johannesburg,” he stated.
Beyond the desire to see elite runners compete, accessibility and inclusivity remain at the core of the race's success.
Goodwin emphasised this point: “What matters for us is keeping the race open and accessible to everyone, whether you are running with a club or joining as a temporary licence holder.
Families are a big part of this event too. Last year, 40% of our runners were temporary licence holders, and we love seeing that mix.”
Now a staple in the South African road running calendar, the Hollywoodbets 10km continues to energise both Durban and Johannesburg by boosting local economic activity and community engagement.
Attendees at the launch were particularly excited about the introduction of the new Hollywoodbets 10km race registration website, designed to streamline sign-ups.
“This new platform makes sign-up simpler and more runner-friendly. Runners will receive better communication, quicker updates, and an all-around easier registration experience,” noted Goodwin.
The innovative website was developed with the expertise of BET Software, which significantly contributed to optimising the technology behind the platform. Goodwin acknowledged their support: “BET Software really drove the innovation on this project.
Their technical expertise helped us build something that’s efficient and user-friendly. It ties directly into the Hollywood Group’s commitment to innovation and investing back into the athletics ecosystem.”
Runners can register through the newly designed race registration website at registrations.hollywoodathleticsclub.co.za/race.
Entry fees remain affordable for both licensed and unlicensed participants, ranging from R180 to R250 for the 10km race or the 5km fun run.