when are the track and field world championships
The next outdoor World Athletics Championships in track and field are scheduled for 13–21 September 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
After that, World Athletics is introducing a new global meet, the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, which will run 11–13 September 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.
Quick Scoop
Main dates to know
- World Athletics Championships (outdoor “worlds”):
- Dates: 13–21 September 2025.
* Host city: Tokyo, Japan.
- World Athletics Ultimate Championship (new top-level meet):
- Dates: 11–13 September 2026.
* Host city: Budapest, Hungary.
Think of 2025 as the traditional nine‑day world championships, and 2026 as a new, shorter “ultimate” showdown with concentrated finals and big prize money.
What’s actually happening in 2026?
In 2026, there is no standard outdoor World Athletics Championships; instead, fans get two major global events:
- World Athletics Indoor Championships
- Dates: 20–22 March 2026.
* Location: Toruń, Poland.
- World Athletics Ultimate Championship (outdoor)
- Dates: 11–13 September 2026.
* Location: Budapest, Hungary, at the National Athletics Centre.
* Format: Three compact evening sessions with top athletes across track and field events.
So if you’re asking “when are the track and field world championships” specifically for the next big global meet, the key dates are 13–21 September 2025 in Tokyo , and then the new “ultimate” worlds 11–13 September 2026 in Budapest.
Mini FAQ and context
- Is the 2025 championship still a full, traditional worlds?
Yes. It runs over nine days in Tokyo with around 2,000 athletes, nearly 50 events, and full morning/evening sessions.
- Why all the buzz around 2026?
The Ultimate Championship offers a record prize pool (about 10 million USD in total, with very high winner payouts), which is why it’s being hyped as a “super finals”–style event.
- Indoor vs outdoor “worlds”
Indoor championships in March 2026 are in a smaller arena with shorter track (usually 200 m), while the outdoor Ultimate Championship in September 2026 uses a full 400 m stadium and the broader program of events.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
