Running News Daily

The city of Budapest is once again preparing to stand at the centre of global athletics as it readies itself to host one of the most anticipated spectacles of the 2026 season — the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship from September 11 to 13.

After delivering a breathtaking and unforgettable edition of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, the Hungarian capital is now set to welcome the sport’s biggest stars for a brand-new championship designed to bring together only the very best in the world. The atmosphere that captivated fans in 2023 is expected to return with even greater intensity as Budapest transforms into the ultimate battleground for elite athletics.

The newly introduced championship promises a rare collision of champions, featuring Olympic gold medallists, reigning world champions and Diamond League winners all competing head-to-head for the prestigious title of “Ultimate Champion” in their respective events. With pride, legacy and global supremacy on the line, every race, jump and throw is expected to carry extraordinary significance.

From explosive sprint showdowns to dramatic distance battles and field event duels, the competition is already generating massive excitement across the athletics community. The event is designed to elevate the sport to another level by assembling only the finest performers of the season in one high-stakes championship atmosphere.

Budapest has rapidly established itself as one of the world’s premier athletics destinations, and the return of the sport’s biggest names to the iconic National Athletics Centre is expected to deliver another unforgettable chapter in track and field history. Fans across the globe are now counting down to what could become one of the defining events of the modern athletics era.

"We want to feature the biggest stars and make it a must-watch global sporting event," said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.

On Monday, World Athletics unveiled plans for a new biennial event to take place during non-world championship/Olympic years, and serving as a lucrative end-of-season finale. The World Ultimate Championships will be a revolutionary global event designed to redefine the athletics calendar and crown the best of the best in athletics. This ultimate championship will bring together world champions, Olympic champions, Diamond League winners and the year’s top-performing athletes to compete for the top prize of USD $150,000.

In Sept. 2026, Budapest will play host to the inaugural World Ultimate Championships, a three-day event boasting a $10 million prize purse. This “best vs. best” competition will feature the top 16 athletes from the 2026 season competing in a track semi-finals and finals format, while the top eight athletes in field events (throwing and jumping) will battle it out in the field finals. Each event winner will pocket USD $150,000—the highest amount of prize money offered at a track and field championship—with additional prize money distributed to the eight finalists. This substantial financial incentive aims to elevate the sport and attract the world’s top athletes.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said in a press release: “This is about the best of the best; only 400 athletes from about 70 countries. We want this to look different, we want this to feel different (than a World Championships).” Coe’s vision for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is to deliver high action and excitement for fans. “We want to feature the biggest stars and make it a must-watch global sporting event.”

Designed to captivate millions of television viewers worldwide, the championship will feature a compact three-day athletics schedule, with each evening session lasting under three hours. The format includes semi-finals and finals for track events, and straight finals for field events, ensuring a thrilling and fast-paced competition. According to World Athletics, athletes will not compete for their sponsors, but instead for their national teams, adding an extra layer of pride and excitement to the competition.

The press release reveals that the ultimate event will include the traditional sprint disciplines, middle and long-distance races, relays, jumps and throws. The future hosts beyond the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest have not been announced.