The World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026 is set to bring together many of the world’s biggest track and field stars in Budapest, Hungary, from 11 to 13 September 2026.

The inaugural championship will take place at the Gyula Zsivótzky National Athletics Centre, where the world’s leading sprinters, hurdlers, middle- and long-distance runners, jumpers and throwers will compete for the title of Ultimate Champion.

The three-day event will feature 26 individual events — 13 men’s and 13 women’s — along with two mixed relay events.

Unlike the World Athletics Championships, the Ultimate Championship will not award traditional medals. Instead, winners of individual events will receive a trophy and be crowned an “Ultimate Champion.”

World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026: How athletes qualified

The competition features an elite field selected through several qualification routes.

Athletes invited to Budapest include reigning Olympic champions, world champions and Diamond League champions, who received automatic qualification. Other athletes earned their places through the World Athletics ranking system, while a limited number received exceptional invitations.

With several Olympic and world champions competing, the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship is expected to deliver some of the most competitive track and field action of the season.

World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026: Full Athlete List

Men’s 100m

Oblique Seville (JAM)
Emmanuel Eseme (CMR)
Kayinsola Ajayi (NGR)
Lachlan Kennedy (AUS)
Ronal Longa (COL)
Kenneth Bednarek (USA)
Ronnie Baker (USA)
Christian Coleman (USA)
Trayvon Bromell (USA)
Gift Leotlela (RSA)
Akani Simbine (RSA)
Ackeem Blake (JAM)
Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Lamont Marcell Jacobs (ITA)
Romell Glave (GBR)
Jeremiah Azu (GBR)

Men’s 200m

Kenneth Bednarek (USA)
Sinesipho Dambile (RSA)
José Figueroa (PUR)
Letsile Tebogo (BOT)
Andre De Grasse (CAN)
Makanakaishe Charamba (ZIM)
Yassine Hssine (MAR)
Brandon Hicklin (USA)
Bryan Levell (JAM)
Alexander Ogando (DOM)
Aaron Brown (CAN)
Courtney Lindsey (USA)
Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike (NGR)
Timothé Mumenthaler (SUI)
Christopher Taylor (JAM)
Kyree King (USA)

Men’s 400m

Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (BOT)
Jereem Richards (TTO)
Jacory Patterson (USA)
Rai Benjamin (USA)
Zakithi Nene (RSA)
Chris Bailey (USA)
Muzala Samukonga (ZAM)
Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR)
Christopher Morales-Williams (CAN)
Muhammad Abdallah Kounta (FRA)
Khaleb McRae (USA)
Jonas Phijffers (NED)
Attila Molnár (HUN)
Lee Eppie (BOT)
Bayapo Ndori (BOT)
Nakajima Yuki Joseph (JPN)
Patrik Simon Enyingi (HUN)

Men’s 800m

Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN)
Djamel Sedjati (ALG)
Marco Arop (CAN)
Brandon Miller (USA)
Yanis Meziane (FRA)
Mark English (IRL)
Max Burgin (GBR)
Ben Pattison (GBR)
Francesco Pernici (ITA)
Navasky Anderson (JAM)
Gabriel Tual (FRA)
Mohamed Attaoui (ESP)
Eliott Crestan (BEL)
Handal Roban (VIN)
Donavan Brazier (USA)
Marino Bloudek (CRO)

Men’s 1500m

Josh Kerr (GBR)
Cameron Myers (AUS)
Yared Nuguse (USA)
Azeddine Habz (FRA)
Jake Wightman (GBR)
Robert Farken (GER)
Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech (KEN)
Isaac Nader (POR)
Ethan Strand (USA)
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)
Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN)
Hobbs Kessler (USA)
Cole Hocker (USA)

Men’s 5000m

Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI)
Cornelius Kemboi (KEN)
Addisu Yihune (ETH)
Biniam Mehary (ETH)
Graham Blanks (USA)
Nico Young (USA)
Parker Wolfe (USA)
Grant Fisher (USA)
Ky Robinson (AUS)
Jacob Krop (KEN)
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)
Cole Hocker (USA)

Men’s 110m Hurdles

Ja’Kobe Tharp (USA)
Jamal Britt (USA)
Trey Cunningham (USA)
Cordell Tinch (USA)
Izumiya Shunsuke (JPN)
Bradley Franklin (USA)
Demario Prince (JAM)
Jamar Marshall (USA)
Muratake Rachid (JPN)
Jason Joseph (SUI)
Orlando Bennett (JAM)
Just Kwaou-Mathey (FRA)
Abe Tatsuki (JPN)
Jakub Szymański (POL)
Tyler Mason (JAM)
Enrique Llopis (ESP)

Men’s 400m Hurdles

Alison Dos Santos (BRA)
Karsten Warholm (NOR)
Rai Benjamin (USA)
Matheus Lima (BRA)
Ezekiel Nathaniel (NGR)
Trevor Bassitt (USA)
Caleb Dean (USA)
Emil Agyekum (GER)
Bassem Hemeida (QAT)
Abderrahman Samba (QAT)
Yeral Nuñez (DOM)
Matic Ian Guček (SLO)
Oskar Edlund (SWE)
Owe Fischer-Breiholz (GER)
İsmail Nezir (TUR)
Kemorena Tisang (BOT)

Men’s High Jump

JuVaughn Harrison (USA)
Oleh Doroshchuk (UKR)
Gianmarco Tamberi (ITA)
Jan Štefela (CZE)
Romaine Beckford (JAM)
Erick Portillo (MEX)
Mateusz Kołodziejski (POL)
Tyus Wilson (USA)

Men’s Pole Vault

Armand Duplantis (SWE)
Emmanouil Karalis (GRE)
Sondre Guttormsen (NOR)
Zachery Bradford (USA)
Kurtis Marschall (AUS)
Sam Kendricks (USA)
Baptiste Thiery (FRA)
Christopher Nilsen (USA)

Men’s Long Jump

Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE)
Simon Ehammer (SUI)
Bozhidar Sarâboyukov (BUL)
Tajay Gayle (JAM)
Gerson Baldé (POR)
Anvar Anvarov (UZB)
Zhang Mingkun (CHN)
Luka Bošković (SRB)

Men’s Hammer Throw

Bence Halász (HUN)
Ethan Katzberg (CAN)
Yann Chassinand (FRA)
Mykhaylo Kokhan (UKR)
Paweł Fajdek (POL)
Merlin Hummel (GER)
Rudy Winkler (USA)
Volodymyr Myslyvčuk (CZE)

Men’s Javelin Throw

Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SRI)
Julian Weber (GER)
Curtis Thompson (USA)
Dawid Wegner (POL)
Anderson Peters (GRN)
Keshorn Walcott (TTO)
Julius Yego (KEN)
Arshad Nadeem (PAK)

Women’s Events

Women’s 100m

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA)
Julien Alfred (LCA)
Sha’Carri Richardson (USA)
Tina Clayton (JAM)
Sade McCreath (CAN)
Jonielle Smith (JAM)
Lavanya Williams (JAM)
Cambrea Sturgis (USA)
Zoe Hobbs (NZL)
Brianna Lyston (JAM)
Audrey Leduc (CAN)
Amy Hunt (GBR)
Jodean Williams (JAM)
Tamari Davis (USA)
Patrizia van der Weken (LUX)
Zaynab Dosso (ITA)
Boglárka Takács (HUN)

Women’s 200m

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA)
Gabrielle Thomas (USA)
Kayla White (USA)
Cambrea Sturgis (USA)
Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH)
Amy Hunt (GBR)
Anavia Battle (USA)
Rhasidat Adeleke (IRL)
Jenna Prandini (USA)
Success Eduan (GBR)
Lavanya Williams (JAM)
Ashanti Moore (JAM)
Fabienne Hoenke (SUI)
Jaël Bestué (ESP)
Gémima Joseph (FRA)
Torrie Lewis (AUS)
Boglárka Takács (HUN)

Women’s 400m

Marileidy Paulino (DOM)
Aaliyah Butler (USA)
Henriette Jæger (NOR)
Salwa Eid Naser (BRN)
Nickisha Pryce (JAM)
Lurdes Gloria Manuel (CZE)
Ella Onojuvwevwo (NGR)
Stacey Ann Williams (JAM)
Natalia Bukowiecka (POL)
Lieke Klaver (NED)
Yemi Mary John (GBR)
Roxana Gómez (CUB)
Sharlene Mawdsley (IRL)
Mercy Adongo Oketch (KEN)
Alexis Holmes (USA)
Martina Weil (CHI)

Women’s 800m

Audrey Werro (SUI)
Keely Hodgkinson (GBR)
Femke Broeders-Bol (NED)
Prudence Sekgodiso (RSA)
Rénelle Lamote (FRA)
Sarah Billings (AUS)
Oratile Nowe (BOT)
Shafiqua Maloney (VIN)
Eloisa Coiro (ITA)
Roisin Willis (USA)
Addison Wiley (USA)
Raevyn Rogers (USA)
Nigist Getachew (ETH)
Valentina Rosamilia (SUI)
Veronica Vancardo (SUI)
Halimah Nakaayi (UGA)

Women’s 1500m

Klaudia Kazimierska (POL)
Dorcus Ewoi (KEN)
Jessica Hull (AUS)
Birke Haylom (ETH)
Georgia Hunter-Bell (GBR)
Freweyni Hailu (ETH)
Abbey Caldwell (AUS)
Emily Mackay (USA)
Agathe Guillemot (FRA)
Nikki Hiltz (USA)
Haregeweyni Kalayu (ETH)
Saron Berhe (ETH)

Women’s 5000m

Likina Amebaw (ETH)
Aleshign Baweke (ETH)
Freweyni Hailu (ETH)
Senayet Getachew (ETH)
Hirut Meshesha (ETH)
Fantaye Belayneh (ETH)
Maureen Koster (NED)
Rose Davies (AUS)
Jessica Hull (AUS)
Hannah Nuttall (GBR)
Marta García (ESP)
Shelby Houlihan (USA)

Women’s 100m Hurdles

Masai Russell (USA)
Tobi Amusan (NGR)
Devynne Charlton (BAH)
Nadine Visser (NED)
Alaysha Johnson (USA)
Alia Armstrong (USA)
Demisha Roswell (JAM)
Megan Simmonds (JAM)
Rayniah Jones (USA)
Pia Skrzyszowska (POL)
Danielle Williams (JAM)
Kendra Harrison (USA)
Ackera Nugent (JAM)
Marione Fourie (RSA)
Luca Kozák (HUN)
Laeticia Bapté (FRA)

Women’s 400m Hurdles

Anna Cockrell (USA)
Emma Zapletalová (SVK)
Jasmine Jones (USA)
Rushell Clayton (JAM)
Dalilah Muhammad (USA)
Paulien Couckuyt (BEL)
Fatoumata Binta Diallo (POR)
Gianna Woodruff (PAN)
Kemi Adekoya (BRN)
Ayomide Folorunso (ITA)
Sanique Walker (JAM)
Lina Nielsen (GBR)
Amalie Iuel (NOR)
Ashley Miller (ZIM)
Shamier Little (USA)
Shiann Salmon (JAM)
Sára Mátó (HUN)

Women’s High Jump

Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR)
Nicola Olyslagers (AUS)
Eleanor Patterson (AUS)
Angelina Topić (SRB)
Iryna Gerashchenko (UKR)
Yuliia Levchenko (UKR)
Lamara Distin (JAM)
Maria Żodzik (POL)

Women’s Pole Vault

Hana Moll (USA)
Sandi Morris (USA)
Angelica Moser (SUI)
Eliza McCartney (NZL)
Imogen Ayris (NZL)
Katie Moon (USA)
Tina Šutej (SLO)
Emily Grove (USA)

Women’s Long Jump

Larissa Iapichino (ITA)
Alyssa Jones (USA)
Agate De Sousa (POR)
Hilary Kpatcha (FRA)
Jazmin Sawyers (GBR)
Monae’ Nichols (USA)
Claire Bryant (USA)
Marthe Koala (BUR)

Women’s Triple Jump

Thea LaFond (DMA)
Davisleydi Velazco (CUB)
Saly Sarr (SEN)
Leyanis Pérez Hernández (CUB)
Liadagmis Povea (CUB)
Dariya Derkach (ITA)
Ackelia Smith (JAM)
Gabriele Santos (BRA)

Women’s Javelin Throw

Yan Ziyi (CHN)
Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado (COL)
Adriana Vilagoš (SRB)
Kitaguchi Haruka (JPN)
Sigrid Borge (NOR)
Mackenzie Little (AUS)
Tori Moorby (NZL)
Anete Sierina (LAT)

Mixed Relay Teams

The inaugural championship will also feature two mixed relay events.

Mixed 4x100m Relay

Jamaica
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Canada
Germany
Netherlands
Nigeria
United States of America
Spain
Hungary

Mixed 4x400m Relay

United States of America
Jamaica
Norway
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Kenya
Italy
Netherlands
Belgium
Hungary

When and Where Is the World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026?

The 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship will be held from 11 to 13 September 2026 at the Gyula Zsivótzky National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

The event will bring together elite athletes from across the world in sprinting, middle-distance running, long-distance running, hurdles, jumping and throwing events.

Who Are the Biggest Stars at the Ultimate Championship?

The field includes some of the biggest names in global athletics, including Armand Duplantis, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Letsile Tebogo, Rai Benjamin, Arshad Nadeem, Gianmarco Tamberi, Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, Keely Hodgkinson, Julien Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson, Marileidy Paulino and Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

The men’s pole vault will be particularly notable with world record-holder Armand Duplantis leading the field, while the men’s javelin features Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem.

In the women’s events, Olympic and world-class stars such as Julien Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson, Marileidy Paulino, Keely Hodgkinson and Yaroslava Mahuchikh will headline the competition.

World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026: Key Details

Detail	Information
Event	World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026
Dates	11–13 September 2026
Host city	Budapest, Hungary
Venue	Gyula Zsivótzky National Athletics Centre
Individual events	26
Relay events	2 mixed relays
Individual winners	Ultimate Champion
Medals	No traditional medals

Final Takeaway

The World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026 will make its debut with an impressive collection of the world’s leading track and field athletes. From sprint stars and Olympic champions to record-breaking jumpers and elite throwers, Budapest will host three days of high-level athletics from 11 to 13 September.

With athletes such as Duplantis, Tebogo, Ingebrigtsen, Benjamin, Nadeem, Alfred, Richardson, Paulino, Hodgkinson and Mahuchikh in the field, the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship promises to be one of the standout athletics events of 2026.

World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026: Full List of Athletes, Events and Teams