The 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk will return to Johannesburg on Sunday, 26 July 2026, taking thousands of participants through the inner city on three routes starting and finishing at Ellis Park. The event, hosted by Radio 702 in partnership with Jozi My Jozi and supported by the City of Johannesburg, will use the annual walk to highlight Joburg’s heritage, architecture, urban renewal and the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness. Participants can choose a 5 km, 8 km or 15 km route through several well known Johannesburg precincts.
Reimagined as the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk, the 2026 event moves through the Johannesburg CBD and surrounding neighbourhoods, including Newtown, Maboneng and Victoria Yards.
All three routes are wheelchair and pram friendly, while Gautrain and PRASA are working as transport partners to improve access to Ellis Park.
ALSO READ: 702 Walk the Talk 2026: How to Use Gautrain and PRASA to Get to Ellis Park
Walk The Talk Returns To The Johannesburg Inner City
The 2026 event marks Walk the Talk’s return to Johannesburg and places the city’s inner city at the centre of the route.
According to Keitumetsi Madisha, head of events at Radio 702, the decision to move the walk into the city centre is intended to connect the mass participation event with ongoing work focused on Johannesburg’s CBD.
“702 decided to move Walk the Talk into the city center to transform the massive event into a ‘walk with purpose’ focused on the active rejuvenation and reclamation of the Johannesburg CBD,” Madisha said.
She said the partnership with Jozi My Jozi is intended to draw attention to efforts to clean, restore and change perceptions of the inner city.
“We want tens of thousands of participants to physically reclaim the streets,” Madisha said.
The routes have been planned to take walkers past architectural landmarks, cultural precincts and neighbourhoods linked to Johannesburg’s history and changing urban landscape.
Three Walk The Talk Routes Start And Finish At Ellis Park
Participants can choose between three distances, with each route starting and finishing at Ellis Park.
The official registration information lists the routes and starting times as follows:
- The 15 km Mandela Bridge Route starts at 7:00
- The 8 km 44 Main Street Route starts at 9:00
- The 5 km Victoria Yards Route starts at 10:00
The 5 km Victoria Yards Route has been positioned as the shorter option for families and participants looking for a gentler walk through the city.
The 8 km route heads through parts of the inner city, including Maboneng, Jewel City, City Hall, the Rand Club and Gandhi Square.
The 15 km Mandela Bridge Route extends further through Johannesburg and includes landmarks and precincts such as Chancellor House, Newtown, the Market Theatre and Nelson Mandela Bridge.
The wider route information also identifies the Carlton Centre and other prominent inner city locations as points walkers may encounter during the event.
Walk The Talk Will Highlight People Experiencing Homelessness
This year’s event will also draw attention to people experiencing homelessness in Johannesburg.
Participants will have the option of making additional donations beyond their entry fees through a Mi Change voucher system.
According to the official event registration information, the initiative works with homelessness organisations MES and U Turn. The vouchers provide access to practical support including meals, hygiene facilities, clothing and shelter.
Jozi My Jozi’s Nyeleti Magadze said the focus is on supporting organisations working to create pathways out of homelessness.
“We are walking for the people of Jozi,” Magadze said.
She said people find themselves living on the streets for different reasons, including job losses and moving to Johannesburg in search of employment without securing accommodation or longer term support.
“They are not homeless. They are experiencing homelessness at a point in time,” Magadze said.
Magadze also highlighted the daily difficulties faced by people sleeping in public spaces and under bridges without regular access to bathrooms, showers and safe accommodation.
“We see them, but we choose not to see them,” she said.
Jozi My Jozi Partnership Places Focus On Urban Renewal
The 2026 Walk the Talk is being held in partnership with Jozi My Jozi, a Johannesburg movement involved in projects focused on the city and urban renewal.
According to the Jozi My Jozi official website, its areas of work include public transit revitalisation, the visitor and creative economy, project management and commercial partnerships.
The organisation has also worked with improvement districts and city partners on projects linked to the Johannesburg inner city.
For the Walk the Talk, organisers expect participants to move through areas where businesses, cultural organisations and inner city projects operate.
Madisha said the routes are intended to help Johannesburg residents reconnect with parts of the city.
“By walking through neighbourhoods like Newtown, Maboneng, and Victoria Yards, the event encourages locals to reconnect with the historical and artistic heartbeat of Jozi,” she said.
Gautrain And PRASA Will Connect Participants To Ellis Park
Public transport arrangements form part of planning for the event.
Gautrain and PRASA are official transport partners for the 2026 walk.
According to Gautrain, passengers can travel to Park Station and connect to a PRASA service transporting participants to Ellis Park Stadium.
The event registration portal also lists official Park and Shuttle services from Clearwater Mall, Montecasino, Greenstone Mall and Gold Reef City. Participants using these services should confirm the latest transport costs and arrangements before travelling.
Organisers have encouraged participants to plan their journeys before event day as the walk will bring large numbers of people into the Ellis Park and Johannesburg CBD area.
Registration Remains Open For The 2026 Walk
Participants can register online for the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk.
The official registration portal lists adult entry prices of R390 for the 15 km route and R370 for the 8 km and 5 km routes. Junior pricing varies by route and age category.
Entries are scheduled to close on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, according to published event information.
Participants can complete their entry through the 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk registration portal.
People entering the 15 km walk should also check the applicable Athletics South Africa licence requirements. Official event information states that participants must wear a permanent ASA number or purchase a temporary licence where required.
What This Means For Gauteng Residents
The return of Walk the Talk to Johannesburg gives Gauteng residents an opportunity to move through parts of the inner city on organised routes linked to heritage sites and cultural precincts.
For Johannesburg residents, the routes place familiar CBD landmarks within a large public walking event rather than a daily commuting environment.
Families can consider the 5 km Victoria Yards Route, while the 8 km and 15 km options cover a wider section of the inner city.
The partnership with homelessness organisations also gives participants an option to contribute through the Mi Change voucher system.
Residents travelling from other parts of Gauteng should plan transport in advance and check their route start time carefully. The three distances do not begin at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is The 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk The Talk 2026?
The event takes place on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
Where Does Walk The Talk Start And Finish?
All three routes start and finish at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
What Routes Are Available?
Participants can choose the 5 km Victoria Yards Route, the 8 km 44 Main Street Route or the 15 km Mandela Bridge Route.
Are The Routes Wheelchair And Pram Friendly?
Yes. Published event information states that all three routes are wheelchair and pram friendly.
How Can Participants Register?
Registration is available through the official 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk online registration portal. Entries are scheduled to close on 22 July 2026.
Johannesburg Prepares For Walk The Talk On 26 July
The 702 Jozi My Jozi Walk the Talk will bring walkers back to Johannesburg’s streets on 26 July, with Ellis Park serving as the start and finish point for all three routes.
The 5 km, 8 km and 15 km walks will take participants through inner city neighbourhoods, heritage locations and cultural precincts while the event also highlights urban renewal and support for people experiencing homelessness.
Gauteng residents planning to participate should register before entries close, confirm their route start time and arrange transport to Ellis Park ahead of event day.
