LONDON / NEW YORK — May 21, 2026 — ATHLOS, the world's leading all-women's professional track and field meet, today announced a slate of news that redefines the economics, footprint, and reach of women's track and field. The 2026 season — ATHLOS's first as a multi-city league — will span London and New York City, anchored by the largest athlete compensation package in the league's history, including what we believe to be an industry-first athlete equity for eligible participating athletes.

ATHLOS returns to its home city of New York City on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Icahn Stadium, where the season will culminate in the championship finale. Tickets for both the London and NYC events are on sale now at Athlos.com. The 2026 season's musical performance will be announced later this summer. All seven ATHLOS events return in 2026: the 100m hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile, and long jump.

“ATHLOS is going global — and London is exactly where we wanted to start,” said Alexis Ohanian, Founder of ATHLOS. “There is no city in the world that turns out for athletics the way London does — and no better stage for the athletes on the start line. Two cities, one championship, and the most ambitious season this league has ever staged.”

Going Global: London

ATHLOS's inaugural international stop will take place at StoneX Stadium in London at 7:00 p.m. local time on September 18, 2026.

“ATHLOS is putting women's sport exactly where it belongs - front and centre - and this government shares that ambition entirely,” said Stephanie Peacock, UK Minister of Sport. “Through our Women's Sport Taskforce and priority slots for women and girls at grassroots facilities, we are ensuring sport is a space where women and girls can thrive at every level. I'm delighted that fans will get to experience the pinnacle of female athletes when ATHLOS comes to town. With the Women's T20 Cricket World Cup, the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ in 2027, and our bid for the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup, we are proud to be leading a decade of change for women's sport.”

A New League Format

The 2026 season introduces ATHLOS's first multi-city league structure. Athletes compete in their individual events at each stop, earning prize money in each city before the season culminates in NYC where the overall champion of each event is crowned. Scoring follows a points-based system modeled after the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championship format, with cumulative points across both cities determining the overall champion in each discipline.

Record-Breaking Athlete Economics

Per-event prizing has been significantly increased for 2026:

  • 1st place: $65,000
  • 2nd place: $35,000
  • 3rd place: $20,000
  • 4th place: $15,000
  • 5th place: $10,000
  • 6th place: $6,000

Combined across London and New York, ATHLOS will award more than $2.1 million in cash prize money in 2026.

The Tiffany Crown

The Tiffany & Co. crown remains ATHLOS's signature recognition — awarded to the athlete who takes the overall title in their discipline across both meets. Each crowning champion will also receive a $25,000 championship bonus on top of per-event earnings.

Track and Field Industry-First: Athlete Equity

For the first time in track and field, eligible participating athletes receive equity in ATHLOS, ensuring such athletes share in the long-term value of the league they are helping to build.

“We're raising both the floor and the ceiling on what athletes can earn. Per-event prize money is up significantly, we've added a $25,000 championship bonus for the overall winner of each event, and eligible participating athletes have the opportunity to hold a direct ownership stake in the league they're helping build. These athletes are partners in ATHLOS — and the economics reflect that,” said Kayla Green, Acting President at ATHLOS.

Confirmed Athletes

The first wave of confirmed athletes for the 2026 season includes Olympians Sha'Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, Tara Davis-Woodhall, Masai Russell and Marileidy Paulino. Additional athletes will be announced throughout the summer.

“This is the level of excitement and experience track and field has always deserved,” said Olympian and ATHLOS owner-advisor Sha'Carri Richardson. “Two major cities. The best athletes in the world. Real stakes, real investment, and real fans that now have access. ATHLOS isn't reinventing the sport, it's bringing it back to what it was always meant to be.”

A Community Beginning

The 2026 announcement was kicked off on May 19 in New York City with a celebratory community event welcoming friends and partners of ATHLOS to a local gallery showcase featuring some of the most iconic imagery from the 2024 and 2025 ATHLOS meets. The evening included a silent auction, with all proceeds going directly to ATHLOS's strategic community partner, NYC Her Future — supporting the next generation of young women in New York.

“Thank you, ATHLOS for continuing to contribute to the mission and vision of NYC Her Future. NYC Her Future is proud to stand alongside Athlos in supporting female athletes while addressing the pay disparity” said Nathifa Forde, Founding Executive Director, NYC Her Future. “Young women and girls deserve every opportunity to run toward their dreams. Through this partnership, we've connected NYC track and field athletes to experiences that honor their talent and allow them to see representation in action. Like ATHLOS, we believe that when women are given the access and opportunity with equitable compensation, they can cross the finish line - crowned with the recognition they deserve. Our office understands what it takes to transform an industry with a bold approach. Congratulations to ATHLOS as it enters its third year.”

What Fans Can Expect

Fans entering StoneX Stadium for the first time — and returning to Icahn Stadium for the championship finale — can expect an electric night of track and field: the production-first energy ATHLOS is known for, the deepest roster in the league's history, and seven world-class events under the lights. ATHLOS's broadcast distribution lineup of ESPN, X, YouTube, and ION returns for 2026, bringing the meet to fans across the platforms they already use.

To support the next evolution of the league's broadcast presentation, ATHLOS has partnered with award-winning broadcast agency Aurora Media Worldwide as host broadcast partner for the 2026 season. Aurora is known for helping grow global sports properties through innovation and modern sports storytelling, and will bring that approach to ATHLOS through premium live production, athlete-led storytelling, enhanced graphics and digital-first coverage.

Tickets

Tickets for both the London and NYC events are on sale now at Athlos.com.

About ATHLOS

ATHLOS is a first-of-its-kind track and field league bringing together the fastest women in the world to compete for the largest prize purse ever for a women's-only track event. ATHLOS provides fans a unique way to experience and celebrate the world's fastest women, marrying the competition of a track and field meet with the entertainment of a music festival to fully celebrate these incredible athletes as they reach for new heights in the sport. For more information, visit ATHLOS.com.

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