The global athletics stage is set for the 2026 season as the full calendar for the Diamond League the world’s premier track and field series has been officially released. The news has local running enthusiasts already anticipating another season of Kenyan dominance, following the stellar performances of our athletes in the 2025 campaign.
The 17th edition of the series will kick off in the familiar, fast lanes of Doha, Qatar, on May 8th. The season promises a thrilling journey across three continents, culminating in the two-day grand finale in Brussels, Belgium, on September 4th and 5th.
The African leg and record-breaking stops
For African athletes, the key date will be May 31st, when the Diamond League lands in Rabat, Morocco, for the continent’s sole meeting. This event serves as a crucial point for East African stars to gauge their form before the series shifts to Europe.
The European swing begins in Rome on June 4th, followed by meetings in Stockholm (June 7th), Oslo (June 10th), and Paris (June 26th).
The circuit then crosses the Atlantic on July 4th to the famed track in Eugene, USA, a venue that has seen five world records broken in the past three seasons, cementing its reputation as a temple of speed.
The late summer sees the athletes return to Europe for highly anticipated meetings in Monaco (July 10th) and London (July 18th). The final push for qualification points will be made across August in Lausanne, Silesia, and Zurich, before the season ends in Belgium.
Reigning Kenyan champions to defend their crowns
The announcement of the 2026 calendar brings heightened excitement in Kenya, as many of our athletes will be looking to retain the Diamond Trophies they clinched in the 2025 final in Zurich.
Last season proved historic for Kenya’s young distance dynasty, with three standout winners:
Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800m): The newly crowned World Champion and reigning Olympic 800m gold medalist is expected to be the main draw. His 2025 Diamond League title, his third consecutive crown over the two-lap race, saw him hold off fierce competition in Zurich.
Faith Cherotich (3000m Steeplechase): The former World U20 Champion and now World Champion successfully defended her Diamond Trophy in 2025, reaffirming her status as the queen of the water jump.
Nelly Chepchirchir (1500m): Chepchirchir capped a sensational breakout year by winning her maiden Diamond League 1500m title, beating a loaded field and signalling her emergence as a major force in the middle distance event.
With this solid foundation of reigning champions and the 2026 Diamond League schedule providing a clear pathway of high-stakes competition, the world will once again be watching Kenya’s athletes as they seek to dominate the world of track and field.
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