The International Athletics Federation (World Athletics) has unveiled its latest invention, the Ultimate Championship. Scheduled to begin in 2026, it will feature 28 events, including a new one : a mixed 4x100m relay. As expected, the competition will focus on running and jumping, but will ignore the steeplechase and two of the four throws in the program, the shot put and the discus. The first edition of the Ultimate Championship will take place from September 11 to 13, 2026 in Budapest. The event is scheduled to be held every two years, in years without an outdoor world championship. In each of the events, eight to sixteen athletes will be invited according to the world rankings, with no limit on the number of entries per country. The races will feature semi-finals and a final, unlike the fields events, which are reduced to a direct final. All reigning Olympic gold medallists are guaranteed an invitation, as are the world champions and Diamond League winners. Athletes will wear the colours of their national teams. At stake is a prize pool of $10 million, including $150.000 for each of the winners. World Athletics has already provided excellent media coverage for the first edition, thanks to agreements signed with Infront, Tata Communications and HBS.
