Athletics is getting a shake-up. The World Athletics Ultimate Championship promises to fuse sport, spectacle, and serious money &ndash; with a record-breaking $10million prize fund and a fast-paced, fan-first format designed to keep the world&rsquo;s best athletes in the spotlight year-round.
&ldquo;The athletes are in the spotlight during the Olympics, and then it seems like they disappear. That is not true. They are present all the time, and our job is to make them visible,&rdquo; said US entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, one of the special guests at the one-year-to-go celebration for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The event will take place in Budapest from 11&ndash;13 September 2026.
Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and a leading investor in women&rsquo;s sport, has been expanding his portfolio into athletics. In 2024, he financed Athlos, a women-only track-and-field meeting in New York that drew major attention. &ldquo;High prizes motivate athletes and attract people&rsquo;s attention,&rdquo; he said &ndash; a philosophy that aligns closely with the new championship&rsquo;s ambitions.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/691332c8ca2c613b93e01950.jpg" alt="Alexis Ohanian at the Ultimate Party" />
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Alexis Ohanian at the Ultimate Party (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
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<h3>Reaching new audiences</h3>
The Ultimate Championship will boast the largest prize fund in athletics history. &ldquo;We have a $10million prize pot where every athlete who competes goes home with something,&rdquo; explained World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. &ldquo;These are the things that really keep me up at night. I want to get all those in place, and so I wake up hungry.
&ldquo;During a four-year cycle, we want a large global audience every year. There is one year when we do not have that event, and the Ultimate Championship is set to address that issue.&rdquo;
The two-time Olympic gold medallist said the format was shaped by extensive research. &ldquo;A lot of what we are doing is data-driven,&rdquo; he noted. &ldquo;It is about understanding our audiences. It is about unlocking new fans, but at the same time, not letting our traditional fans disappear because they do not think there is anything in it for them.&rdquo;
After testing and consultation, World Athletics opted for a compact three-day programme &ndash; 28 disciplines delivered in a fast-paced, made-for-television format. &ldquo;It is three evenings of three hours each: a straightforward final for the field events and a semi-final and a final for the track events,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;It is important that our fans get the opportunity to see the best of the best.&rdquo;
<h3>Vision backed by legends</h3>
Several celebrated names from athletics history &ndash; including Ultimate legend Usain Bolt &ndash; attended the celebrations in Tokyo and expressed strong enthusiasm for the new championships.
&ldquo;I loved the idea from the very start,&rdquo; said two-time world 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson. &ldquo;I like the purity of it: we understand head-to-heads, there is nothing complicated, nothing you need to worry too much about. You can sit there, watch, and go through the whole process.&rdquo;
He believes the new competition format will motivate athletes to prove who is truly the best in their event &ndash; the Olympic champion, the world champion, or the Diamond League winner.
Jackson, now a commentator and television presenter for the BBC, said he looks forward to the competition, which will take place at the end of the 2026 season. &ldquo;You have had your whole season, and then you have a little break to prepare for the final competition,&rdquo; he said.
<h3>High-stakes season finale</h3>
End-of-season events in the past &ndash; such as the World Athletics Final and the Continental Cup &ndash; may no longer appear on the calendar, but World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon is confident the Ultimate Championship will stand the test of time.
&ldquo;There was very little at stake (with the previous competitions), and the fans knew that,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This event is about reigning Olympic champions and reigning world champions competing against each other. The stakes are high. All the athletes will be there, so it will be a much more entertaining and meaningful event than anything we have done towards the end of the season before.&rdquo;
Ridgeon also noted that the Ultimate Championship isn&rsquo;t the only initiative aimed at improving the financial situation of athletes. &ldquo;In the last Olympic cycle, we paid US$25 million in prize money,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;In the current cycle, between 2024 and 2028, we have doubled this amount.
&ldquo;We are working to develop the sport at grassroots level, but we also want to ensure that professional athletes can earn a sustainable living from the sport,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We have to be mindful that our most talented athletes are in demand in other sports, so we need to make sure they stay in athletics and can make a viable professional living. They deserve to.&rdquo;
Lucijan Zalokar for World Athletics Produced as part of the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/media-academy-new-talent-journalism-photography-commentary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Media Academy</a> project

World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Athletics is getting a shake-up.

Ultimate Championship to redefine athletics with record prize fund and fan-first format

When Usain Bolt walked on to the stage at Tokyo&rsquo;s&nbsp;Ultimate Media Party, the crowd erupted as if reliving the thunderclaps of Beijing and London. But this time, the lightning belonged not to his legs, but to a new spark for athletics. Named the sport&rsquo;s first&nbsp;Ultimate Legend, Bolt passed the torch &ndash; symbolically, if not literally &ndash; to a new generation preparing to redefine what it means to be the best.
The&nbsp;inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, taking place in Budapest on 11-13 September 2026, promises to reshape track and field&rsquo;s identity: three days, no heats, no second chances &ndash; just the world&rsquo;s finest athletes competing head-to-head for the title of&nbsp;Ultimate Champion. For Bolt, whose name has long been shorthand for greatness, the innovation feels not like a departure but a long-overdue evolution.
&ldquo;Every other sport has been developing and changing over the years,&rdquo; Bolt said, his trademark grin turning reflective. &ldquo;To see track and field moving in that direction and trying something different &ndash; it&rsquo;s wonderful. This will be a big deal; a title people will respect for years to come.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/68c2de765322eadf4370abd2.jpg" alt="Usain Bolt at the Ultimate media party" />
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Usain Bolt at the Ultimate Media Party (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Will Palmer)
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It&rsquo;s an evolution built on boldness, both in design and spirit. World pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis, announced as the first&nbsp;Ultimate Star, has been among the loudest champions of the idea.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m super excited about it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s bold, action-packed, and honestly, it&rsquo;s a much-needed step for athletics. I believe in the product because it gives us a chance to present our sport in a new, exciting way.&rdquo;
For the Swede, who already holds multiple Olympic and world gold medals, Budapest represents more than another title &ndash; it&rsquo;s a chance to carve his name into a new stratum of history.
&ldquo;If I win, I&rsquo;ll have something that even Usain won&rsquo;t have,&rdquo; Duplantis said with a smile. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be the pinnacle of our season. Every athlete will go into it with pride, because it&rsquo;s not just about yourself &ndash; you&rsquo;re representing your country, your sport, and what comes next.&rdquo;
That &ldquo;next&rdquo; might be precisely what the sport has been searching for: a stage built for global audiences with shorter formats, clear narratives and higher stakes. As Bolt put it: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about bringing the best of the best together &ndash; making it easier to watch, more exciting, and showing the world what we really have.&rdquo;
Multiple Olympic and world &nbsp;triple jump champion Christian Taylor agrees. Though retired from competition, his enthusiasm for innovation is undimmed.
&ldquo;As a former athlete, I&rsquo;m jealous,&rdquo; he laughed. &ldquo;For entertainment, fan engagement &ndash; this is fantastic. We can&rsquo;t keep doing the same things. We have to try, and this is a great effort. It&rsquo;s going to be a historic show.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/690a704df555b0faad20aa51.jpg" alt="Christian Taylor and Sally Pearson at the Ultimate Media Party in Tokyo" />
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Christian Taylor and Sally Pearson at the Ultimate Media Party in Tokyo (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
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</div>
Taylor also sees opportunity in the structure itself &ndash; a season built around a single, dramatic climax. &ldquo;It gives athletes something to be excited for,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;To peak for that moment. Financially, it&rsquo;s huge too. But more than that, the title of&nbsp;Ultimate Champion &ndash; that&rsquo;s powerful.&rdquo;
Among those already assured of a place in Budapest is Dominica&rsquo;s Thea LaFond, who was crowned Olympic triple jump champion in Paris. For her, the Ultimate Championship promises not only competition, but connection.
&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s the accessibility,&rdquo; she explained. &ldquo;It allows fans to connect with us more easily &ndash; to see us as people with families, with stories. And I love the one-and-done format. It&rsquo;s pressure, but it&rsquo;s fun &ndash; for us and for the crowd.&rdquo;
LaFond also praised the event&rsquo;s financial structure, calling it &ldquo;priceless.&rdquo; &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had times when athletes weren&rsquo;t paid what they&rsquo;re worth,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Knowing that you&rsquo;ll give your all and be guaranteed your reward &ndash; it changes everything.&rdquo;
Sally Pearson, the 2012 Olympic 100m hurdles champion and now coach, echoed that sentiment from a generational perspective. &ldquo;I wish I&rsquo;d had something like this,&rdquo; she admitted. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a sign of respect &ndash; to bring only the very best together. The world is changing fast, and our sport has to keep up. The next generation will be the ones driving it.&rdquo;
And perhaps that&rsquo;s the ultimate message of the Ultimate Party: a celebration not just of nostalgia, but of renewal. Bolt, Duplantis, LaFond, Taylor, Pearson &ndash; legends and stars in the same room, united by a single idea. Track and field is not done evolving.
Ainhoa Serrano for World Athletics Produced as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/media-academy-new-talent-journalism-photography-commentary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics Media Academy</a> project

When Usain Bolt walked on to the stage at Tokyo’s Ultimate Media Party, the crowd erupted as if reliving the thunderclaps of Beijing and London

Bolt, Duplantis and a new era: athletics looks to its Ultimate future

Fans can track the athlete journey to next year's World Athletics Ultimate Championship via the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/stats-zone/road-to/7212925?eventId=10229509" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Road to the Ultimate</a> &ndash; a dedicated online tool now available on the World Athletics website.&nbsp;
Searchable by discipline and qualification status, the tool provides a real-time view of each discipline over the course of the Ultimate Championship 2026 qualification period &ndash; highlighting the athletes who are in line to receive invites for individual events.&nbsp;
The Ultimate Championship will bring together world champions, Olympic champions, Wanda Diamond League winners and the year&rsquo;s best performing athletes in an epic clash of titans. It launches in Budapest in 2026, when the world&rsquo;s greatest will settle the debate across three intense sessions of action from 11-13 September.&nbsp;
The way individual athletes can earn invites includes by:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>being an Olympic champion from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games&nbsp;</li>
<li>being a world champion from the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 &nbsp;</li>
<li>winning the 2026 Diamond League Final in Brussels&nbsp;</li>
<li>their position on the world rankings during the ranking period of 2 September 2025 to 1 September 2026&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Competition is set to be fierce &ndash; a record-setting prize pot of US$10 million is up for grabs and, as eligible athletes receive a personal invite to participate, there is no cap on how many stars from a country can compete in each individual event.&nbsp;
The Ultimate Championship programme features women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s competition in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 100m hurdles/110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, pole vault, high jump, long jump and javelin throw, as well as the women&rsquo;s triple jump, men&rsquo;s hammer throw, and mixed 4x100m and 4x400m.&nbsp;
Each of the three sessions will be stacked with finals. On the track, the two semifinals in certain events will star eight athletes, and only the top four in each will make it through to the final. The 1500m, 5000m and relay races will be straight finals &ndash; no second chances.
&bull; Full <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6903367e000813469a3888b0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">qualification system conditions and criteria</a> document

Road to the Ultimate online tool is designed to help athletes, media and fans track the athlete journey to next year's championship

‘Road to the Ultimate’ launches 

Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners battle to be crowned the Ultimate Champion

11-13 SEPTEMBER 2026

SPARKS WILL FLY

<h2 style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">FOLLOW THE STAR JOURNEY TO BUDAPEST</h2>
<div style="padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="World Athletics Ultimate Championship" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1177317469?autoplay=1&amp;muted=1&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479&amp;loop=1" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/sweden/armand-duplantis-14679502" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLE VAULT &bull; SWE</a>

MONDO DUPLANTIS

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/tara-davis-woodhall-14596561" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LONG JUMP &bull; USA</a>

TARA DAVIS-WOODHALL

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/grant-holloway-14516985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">110M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

GRANT HOLLOWAY

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ukraine/yaroslava-mahuchikh-14739628" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIGH JUMP &bull; UKR</a>

YAROSLAVA MAHUCHIKH

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/norway/jakob-ingebrigtsen-14653717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5000M &bull; NOR</a>

JAKOB INGEBRIGTSEN

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/masai-russell-14659011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

MASAI RUSSELL

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/canada/ethan-katzberg-14809348" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HAMMER THROW &bull; CAN</a>

ETHAN KATZBERG

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/saint-lucia/julien-alfred-14646562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &bull; LCA</a>

JULIEN ALFRED

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/greece/miltiadis-tentoglou-14669734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LONG JUMP &bull; GRE</a>

MILTIADIS TENTOGLOU

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/keely-hodgkinson-14642894" target="_blank" rel="noopener">800M &bull; GBR</a>

KEELY HODGKINSON

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/rai-benjamin-14574865" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

RAI BENJAMIN

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/nina-kennedy-14407592" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLE VAULT &bull; AUS</a>

NINA KENNEDY

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/noah-lyles-14536762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &bull; USA</a>

NOAH LYLES

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/faith-kipyegon-14413305" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1500M &bull; KEN</a>

FAITH KIPYEGON

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/japan/haruka-kitaguchi-14649131" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; JPN</a>

HARUKA KITAGUCHI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/commonwealth-of-dominica/thea-lafond-14416826" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TRIPLE JUMP &bull; DMA</a>

THEA LAFOND

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/new-zealand/hamish-kerr-14633982" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIGH JUMP &bull; NZL</a>

HAMISH KERR

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200M &bull; BOT</a>

LETSILE TEBOGO

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/dominican-republic/marileidy-paulino-14749613" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; DOM</a>

MARILEIDY PAULINO

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/cole-hocker-14905834" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1500M &bull; USA</a>

COLE HOCKER

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/gabrielle-thomas-14733520" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200M &bull; USA</a>

GABRIELLE THOMAS

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/emmanuel-wanyonyi-14974928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">800M &bull; KEN</a>

EMMANUEL WANYONYI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/beatrice-chebet-14749924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5000M &bull; KEN</a>

BEATRICE CHEBET

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/pakistan/arshad-nadeem-14698105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; PAK</a>

ARSHAD NADEEM

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/quincy-hall-14597236" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; USA</a>

QUINCY HALL

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-14624749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE

Qualified by winning in Paris

Olympic champions

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/lilian-odira-14758184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">800M &bull; KEN</a>

LILIAN ODIRA

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/italy/mattia-furlani-14905216" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LONG JUMP &bull; ITA</a>

MATTIA FURLANI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/switzerland/ditaji-kambundji-14739461" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M HURDLES &bull; SUI</a>

DITAJI KAMBUNDJI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/noah-lyles-14536762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200M &bull; USA</a>

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/busang-collen-kebinatshipi-14935809" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; BOT</a>

COLLEN KEBINATSHIPI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/nicola-olyslagers-14455361" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIGH JUMP &bull; AUS</a>

NICOLA OLYSLAGERS

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/jamaica/oblique-seville-14737998" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &bull; JAM</a>

OBLIQUE SEVILLE

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/melissa-jefferson-wooden-14756997" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &amp; 200M &bull; USA</a>

MELISSA JEFFERSON-WOODEN

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/cole-hocker-14905834" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5000M &bull; USA</a>

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/katie-moon-14373744" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLE VAULT &bull; USA</a>

KATIE MOON

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/portugal/isaac-nader-14756630" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1500M &bull; POR</a>

ISAAC NADER

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/netherlands/femke-bol-14707010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M HURDLES &bull; NED</a>

FEMKE BOL

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/cordell-tinch-14719972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">110M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

CORDELL TINCH

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/cuba/leyanis-perez-hernandez-14828679" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TRIPLE JUMP &bull; CUB</a>

LEYANIS PEREZ HERNANDEZ

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/trinidad-and-tobago/keshorn-walcott-14376122" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; TTO</a>

KESHORN WALCOTT

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ecuador/juleisy-angulo-14718123" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; ECU</a>

JULEISY ANGULO

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-14624749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; USA</a>

Qualified by winning in Tokyo

World champions

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

World Athletics Ultimate Championship – debuting 11-13 September 2026 in Budapest – register now for info

World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026

Melbourne Continental Tour Highlights | World Athletics Continental Tour Gold

Liverstream Thumbnail CTG 26 Melbourne

Watch again | Maurie Plant Meet, Melbourne - World Continental Tour Gold

wedwq

Day 3 Full Extended Highlights | World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 2026

Day 3 Full Highlights | World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 2026

Day 2 Full Extended Highlights | World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 2026

Day 2 Full Highlights | World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 2026

Turkmenistan

Kirghizistan

Maldives

Bangladesh

Myanmar

Afghanistan

Chinese Taipei

Laos

Hong Kong, China

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Cambodia

Mongolia

Timor Leste

Bhutan

Thailand

Tajikistan

India

Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan

Philippines

Nepal

Singapore

Vietnam

Indonesia

Dpr Of Korea

Montserrat

Turks And Caicos Islands

Haiti

Antigua & Barbuda

Saint Vincent

Paraguay

Cuba

Bahamas

Mexico

Surinam

Ecuador

Commonwealth Of Dominica

British Virgin Islands

Nicaragua

Saint Kitts And Nevis

Bolivia

Guatemala

Honduras

Dominican Republic

Bermuda

Colombia

Belize

Peru

Barbados

Uruguay

Guyana

Anguilla

Grenada

Trinidad And Tobago

Saint Lucia

Rep Of Palau - Pacific

Tuvalu

American Samoa

Samoa

New Zealand

Solomon Islands

Marshall Islands

Micronesia

Kiribati Rep Of

Papua New Guinea

Vanuatu

Fiji

Guam

Tonga

Cook Islands

Rep Of Nauru - Pacific

Georgia

Turkey

Israel

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Finland

Albania

Belgium

Serbia

Vatican

Cyprus

Croatia

Ireland

Lithuania

Slovak Republic

Republic Of North Macedonia

Hungary

Livestream WIC26 D3AM

Watch again | World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 2026 | Day 3 Morning Session

Coe: Budapest "the natural partner" for Ultimate Championship

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe laid out the organisation’s vision for the Ultimate Championship during a recent visit to Budapest

Pole vault superstar Duplantis to compose Ultimate Championship anthem

Ultimate Star to showcase his musical prowess on the global athletics stage

World Athletics launches Ultimate Fan Challenge

World Athletics has launched the World Athletics Ultimate Fan Challenge, a global competition designed to find the sport’s most passionate supporter

Budapest beginnings

Five storylines that started in 2023 and could define the World Athletics Ultimate Championship when the sport's stars return to the Hungarian capital in 2026

Ultimate Championship session schedule revealed with 300 days to go

Three action-packed sessions stacked with finals – from start to finish