World Athletics announces new World Championships to conclude the 2026 athletics season
• Total prize money of $10 million – the largest in track and field history
• Budapest selected as first host city
World Athletics today World Athletics Ultimate Championshipsis a groundbreaking new world championship event that will transform the athletics calendar and determine which athletes are the strongest. World Champions, Olympic Champions, Wanda Diamond League winners and Athlete of the Year will compete against each other to determine the ultimate champion.
The groundbreaking competition will be highlighted by a $10 million prize purse — the largest in athletics history — with $150,000 awarded to gold medalists. Held for the first time on September 11-13, 2026, the groundbreaking biennial event will first be held in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, and is expected to be a spectacular finale to the summer athletics season.
Designed as the ultimate season finale aimed at captivating millions of television viewers around the world, the world championship event will feature a thrilling, fast-paced new format of athletics. With three overnight sessions lasting less than three hours each, the Ultimate Championships will showcase the best in athletics, including sprints, middle and long distance runs, relays, jumps and throws, ensuring a can’t-miss show for existing and new fans alike. Athletes will represent their nations’ national teams, with individual successes underpinned by national pride.
Setting a new standard for financial reward in sport, the World Athletics Ultimate Championships will have a total prize purse of $10 million, underscoring World Athletics’ commitment to increasing compensation for athletes, providing additional income opportunities and raising awareness. All athletes competing in the championships will be paid financially, with winners receiving $150,000 each. Athletes will also benefit from greater promotional rights, allowing them to operate commercially and enhance their personal profile.
Selected after a competitive process which attracted interest from many of the world’s leading cities, Budapest, which hosted arguably the most successful World Athletics Championships in history last year, is set to welcome around 400 of the world’s best athletes to the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships from 11-13 September 2026.
“With only the best athletes competing and progressing straight to the semi-finals and finals, the pressure is on for athletes to perform immediately if they want to be crowned ultimate champion,” said World Athletics President Seb Coe. “World Athletics Championships will be a pinnacle of action and excitement for fans and will set a new standard for athletics events. With some of the biggest stars in athletics competing, it will be a must-see global sporting event, ensuring that for the first time, athletics will have a major world championship every year and the biggest audience moment for athletics on an annual basis.”
“By embracing innovation and breaking away from traditional models, we aim to reach a wider audience, particularly younger fans, and raise the level of the sport as a whole,” said World Athletics CEO John Ridgeon. “We will aim to reach as many global audiences as possible, with a strong focus on television audiences. We also want to improve the viewing experience both at home and in the stadium, and are considering what new competition innovations we can introduce, all of which will be thoroughly tested in advance. We are convinced this will be a game-changer for the entire sport.”
“Budapest is truly honored to be the inaugural host city of the highly innovative World Athletics Championships. Having successfully hosted numerous competitions, including the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the recent World Aquatics Championships and major UEFA events, Budapest is ready to deliver again,” said Barás Hrős, Hungarian IOC member and former co-leader of the Budapest 23 World Athletics Organizing Committee. “Budapest is truly one of the global sporting capitals and 2026 will be a very special year as we host the UEFA Champions League Final in the new Puskas Arena and later that summer the World Athletics Championships in the brand new National Athletics Centre. Hosting the Ultimate Championships will be a great opportunity to celebrate athletes from all over the world in front of our passionate, sport-loving fans and prove once again that we love sport and we love hosting the world.”
“Following the success of the 23rd World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary has started discussions with World Athletics on how we can continue to participate actively in international competitions and add value to World Athletics. The first ever Ultimate Championships is a great opportunity to keep up the pace and together with President Co we have many more plans in place,” said Hungarian Minister of Sports Adam Schmidt. “These partnerships have had a very positive impact on our country’s sports curriculum and Hungary is always happy to welcome the world to our great capital, Budapest.”
World Athletics continues to prepare for this exciting new championship event and consultations with many stakeholders, including athletes and their representatives, coaches, shoe companies, broadcasters and member federations, have continued throughout the summer, with the event due to launch in full this autumn.
World Athletics Ultimate Championships:
- Global Championship Events: The championships will commence in 2026 and will be held every two years, marking a spectacular conclusion to the athletics season.
- Compact format: It’s a three-day event, with each evening session packed with semi-finals and finals in the track events and finals in the field events.
- Elite Athlete Participation: Each event will feature 8-16 of the world’s best athletes, selected primarily based on their world rankings. Nearly 400 athletes from around 70 countries will compete, showcasing the pinnacle of global athletic talent.
- Prizes: With a total prize purse of $10 million, and $150,000 awarded to the winner, the event established a new standard for financial reward in athletics.