World Athletics today announced the launch of the World Athletics Ultimate Championshipa new world championship that will pit world champions, Diamond League winners and top performing athletes against each other.
The competition will distribute cash prizes for the total 10 million dollarsthe largest amount offered in the history of this sport, and the gold medalists of each event will receive $150,000.
Designed as the ultimate season finale aimed at attracting millions of television viewers around the world, the Ultimate Championship will feature an exciting, fast-moving new format for athletics.
It will consist of three night sessionseach will be under three hours long, and will showcase the best in athletics, including sprints, medium and long distance races, relays, jumping and throwing, where athletes will represent their national teams.
The event will debut from September 11 to 13, 2026 and is held every two years, starting from Budapestthe capital of Hungary.
The president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coesaid “The World Ultimate Athletics Championships will be action-packed and exciting for the fans, setting a new standard for athletics events. With the participation of the biggest stars in athletics, this is a must-see global sporting event and “This means that athletics will host a major world championship every year, ensuring for the first time that athletics enjoys a moment of maximum audience reach on an annual date,” he added.
The CEO of World Athletics, Joe Ridgeonsaid “By embracing change and breaking away from traditional models, we seek to reach a wider audience, especially younger fans, and elevate the entire sport.”
In its part, Balázs FurjesIOC Member for Hungary, added that “Budapest is truly honored to be the inaugural host city of the highly innovative World Athletics Ultimate Championships. With the successful hosting of the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the recent World Aquatics Championships, major UEFA event and more, Budapest is ready to deliver again.”
Finally, the Sports Secretary of Hungary, Adam Schmidtcommented that “Following the success of the Budapest 23 World Athletics Championships, Hungary has started discussions with World Athletics on how we can continue to be an active participant at the international level, adding value to the universal athletic family. Organizing the inaugural edition of the Ultimate Championship is a great opportunity to maintain the momentum and, together with President Coe, we have more plans to fulfill.
The keys to the Ultimate Championship
- global event: The championship, which will be launched in 2026, will be held every two years and will serve as a great end to the athletics era.
- Compact format: A three-day event, with each evening session filled with semi-finals and finals for the track disciplines, and back-to-back finals for the field disciplines.
- Participation of elite athletes– Features between 8 and 16 of the world’s top athletes by discipline, with selections based primarily on world rankings. Nearly 400 athletes from around 70 countries will compete, representing the pinnacle of global athletic talent.
- Cash prizes– A total prize pool of $10 million, with winners receiving $150,000, setting a new benchmark for financial rewards in athletics.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Jason Root, a professional writer working with Today Times Live, the premier news website. I specialize in sports writing, covering the biggest stories in the world of athletics. With an eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, I provide engaging and informative articles that capture the key elements of any event or issue. My work has been featured on numerous respected websites and publications around the world.
