2025. September 23.

More world-class athletes have qualified for the 2026 Athletics World Final in Budapest!

More world-class athletes have qualified for the 2026 Athletics World Final in Budapest!

The first Athletics World Final will take place in Budapest from September 11 to 13, 2026. The event will feature the very best: Olympic champions, Diamond League winners, world champions — in short, the cream of the crop of athletics will compete in a competition that will elevate the “queen of sports” to a new level. Seventeen athletes have already qualified for the event based on their results at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, while eight world champions secured their spots for next year’s event at the Paris Olympics.

This new, three-day competition with its unique format represents a historic milestone in athletics. Only those who are first in their respective events will compete, and among the best of the best, the Ultimate Champion — the Absolute Champion — will be determined. In theory, any number of athletes from one country can participate, with qualification depending solely on achieving a recent top performance that earns them a place among the elite in their sport. 

The Athletics World Final, or Ultimate Championship, will present a serious challenge to the athletes, as there are no preliminaries — spectators will witness decisive battles and fierce competitions over three nights at the National Athletics Centre. The event is organized by the National Event Management Agency, with the involvement of World Athletics and the Hungarian Athletics Association.

Regarding the event, Dr. Ádám Schmidt, Secretary of State for Sports, said:

“At the on-site press event before the Tokyo World Championships, I personally experienced the great interest the World Final generates within the international athletics community. It will truly be a special event, featuring only the most outstanding athletes, and it is a huge success that Budapest, at the National Athletics Centre, will host the competition for the first time. I am delighted that the number of qualifiers expanded again in Tokyo, and I congratulate the athletes. I hope that, just like the Budapest World Championships two years ago, the World Final will provide unforgettable experiences for all fans and inspire many to make regular sports a part of their everyday lives.”

A total of 360 athletes will compete across 28 events. Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners, winners of the Athletics Relay World Championships, and the top-performing athletes of the year can qualify for the competition. The top performers from the World Championships that concluded this Sunday in Tokyo will also travel to Budapest next year. As the host country, Hungary will receive two wildcards, ensuring that fans will be able to support local athletes at the Athletics World Final.

List of newly qualified world champions:

  • 100 m: Oblique Seville (Jamaica), Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA)
  • 200 m: Noah Lyles (USA), Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA)
  • 400 m: Collen Kebinatshipi (Botsawana), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)
  • 800 m: Lilian Odira (Kenya)
  • 1500 m: Isaac Nader (Portugal)
  • 5000 m: Cole Hocker (USA)
  • 100/110 m hurdles: Cordell Tinch (USA), Ditaji Kambundji (Switzerland)
  • 400 m hurdles: Femke Bol (Netherlands),
  • High jump: Nicola Olyslagers (Australia)
  • Pole vault: Katie Moon (USA)
  • Long jump: Mattia Furlani (Italy)
  • Women’s triple jump: Leyanis Perez Hernandez (Cuba)
  • Javelin throw: Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago), Juleisy Angulo (Ecuador)

List of previously qualified athletes:

  • 100 m: Julien Alfred (Saint Lucia), Noah Lyles (USA)
  • 200 m: Gabby Thomas (USA), Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)
  • 400 m: Marileidy Paulino (Dominikai Köztársaság), Quincy Hall (USA)
  • 800 m: Keely Hodgkinson (Great Britain), Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya)
  • 1500 m: Faith Kipyegon (Kenya), Cole Hocker (USA)
  • 5000 m: Beatrice Chebet (Kenya), Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway)
  • 100/110 m hurdles: Masai Russell (USA), Grant Holloway (USA)
  • 400 m hurdles: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA), Rai Benjamin (USA)
  • High jump: Jaroszlava Mahucsih (Ukraine), Hamish Kerr (New Zealand)
  • Pole vault: Nina Kennedy (Australia), Armand Duplantis (Sweden)
  • Long jump: Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA), Miltiadis Tentoglou (Greece)
  • Women’s triple jump: Thea LaFond (Dominican Republic)
  • Men’s hammer throw: Ethan Katzberg (Canada)
  • Javelin throw: Haruka Kitaguchi (Japan), Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan)