An exciting season is on the cards, with a packed 2026 fixtures list being released by Athletics South Africa (ASA), including national and international events across all disciplines and age groups.
In track and field, the domestic season features a wide range of championship events. The ASA Race Walking Trials are scheduled for 21 February in Tshwane, with athletes competing for places in the SA squad for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to be held in Brasilia, Brazil on 12 April.
Provincial track and field championships will be held across the country on 14 and 15 March. They will be followed by the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships taking place in Stellenbosch between 16-18 April.
Multiple championships are also scheduled in various age divisions. These include the ASA Age Group Championships for U18, U20 and U23 athletes in Germiston between 26-28 March, the SASA and LSEN Primary Schools National Championships in the Western Cape between 19-21 March, the SASA and LSEN High Schools National Championships in the North West (dates and venue still to be confirmed).
The SA Masters Championships will be held in Germiston from 30 March to 2 April, while the ASA Primary Sub Youth National Championships in Rustenburg on 4 and 5 December. Other highlights on the track and field calendar are the SASAPD National Championships for para athletes in Stellenbosch between 29-31 March, and the USSA Track and Field Championships for student athletes in Cape Town between 22-25 April.
INTERNATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD
Aside from championship events, there will be three international track and field meetings on SA soil this year; the Hezekiel Sepeng Invitational - a Continental Tour Challenger in Potchefstroom on 7 April, the Cape Milers meeting - a Continental Tour Challenger in Stellenbosch on 10 April; and the inaugural Simbine Classic - a Continental Tour Silver event in Tshwane on 28 April.
On the road, the ASA Marathon Championships will be held on 3 May, incorporated into the Durban International Marathon. Over shorter distances, the ASA Road Running Championships (21km, 5km and 1 mile) will take place in Gqeberha on 27 June, and the ASA 10km Championships incorporated into the Let's Go Potch 10km race will be run in Potchefstroom on 17 October.
And two national cross country events will be held this season. The ASA Cross Country Championships are in Tshwane on 5 September, and the SASA and LSEN Schools Cross Country Championships will take place in KwaZulu-Natal on 2 and 3 October.
Outside SA borders, a long list of international championships will take place in 2026, with South African athletes taking on the world's best.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
In track and field, at senior level, there's the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland from 20-22 March, the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana on 2 and 3 May, the CAA African Senior Championships in Ghana between 12-17 May; the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland between 23 July and 2 August, and the inaugural edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary between 11-13 September.
In younger age groups, the World Athletics U20 Championships will be held in Eugene, United States between 5-9 August, and the Youth Olympic Games are in Dakar, Senegal between 31 October and 12 November.
Other top-flight events include the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark on 19 and 20 September, plus the IAU 50km World Championships in New Delhi, India on 14 March. The IAU 100km World Championships will be hosted in Spain on 20 September and the FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Cassino, Italy on 14 and 15 March.
"We are looking forward to what is expected to be a memorable season of athletics both at home and abroad, with athletes receiving opportunities to participate across all levels of competition," said ASA Acting President John Mathane.
"The national federation will also be hosting a number of workshops and symposiums in order to ensure we continue creating opportunities for individuals in the sport to both impart and gain knowledge in various areas.
"South African athletics has made significant progress in recent years and we aim to ensure we continue taking steps forward in an attempt to grow and promote our sport."