<\/p>\n
2026 will see a record number of meetings featuring in the World Athletics Continental Tour.<\/strong><\/p>\n More than 280 meetings are so far included in this year\u2019s calendar, which is divided into four levels \u2013 Gold, Silver, Bronze and Challenger. The status of each meeting is determined by the quality of competition and prize money on offer.<\/p>\n For the first time ever several countries will be privileged to host the Continental Tour meetings for the first time this year, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Korea, Lesotho, Oman and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n The Continental Tour will feature 11 Gold meetings across five continental areas in 2026.<\/p>\n Gold level action will again kick off in Australia with the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on 27-28 March before the tour heads to Kenya for the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on 24 April.<\/p>\n After this, the athletes will be welcomed to the SEIKO Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, Japan, on 17 May and the Irena Szewi\u0144ska Memorial in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on 29 May.<\/p>\n The month of June wil be offering a mouth watering six Gold meetings including the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland; the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix in Texas, USA; the USATF LA Grand Prix in Los Angeles, USA; the Ostrava Golden Spike in Czechia; the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands; and the Boris Han\u017eekovi\u0107 Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia.<\/p>\n For many athletes this will be a platform to prepare for this year\u2019s major events. The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship takes place in Budapest on 11-13 September and before that the Hungarian capital will host the final Continental Tour Gold meeting of the season \u2013 the Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 on 14 July.<\/p>\n More than 20,300 athletes from almost 200 countries competed in the Continental Tour in 2025, setting three world records, 10 area records, 222 national records and 10,184 personal bests.<\/p>\n Gold level meetings in the 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour;<\/p>\n 27-28 March: Maurie Plant Meet \u2013 Melbourne (AUS)<\/p>\n 24 April: Kip Keino Classic \u2013 Nairobi (KEN)<\/p>\n 17 May: SEIKO Golden Grand Prix \u2013 Tokyo (JPN)<\/p>\n 29 May: Irena Szewi\u0144ska Memorial \u2013 Bydgoszcz (POL)<\/p>\n 3 June: Paavo Nurmi Games \u2013 Turku (FIN)<\/p>\n 6 June: USATF Lone Star Grand Prix \u2013 College Station, TX (USA)<\/p>\n 13-14 June: USATF LA Grand Prix \u2013 Los Angeles (USA)<\/p>\n 16 June: Ostrava Golden Spike \u2013 Ostrava (CZE)<\/p>\n 21 June: FBK Games \u2013 Hengelo (NED)<\/p>\n 26 June: Boris Han\u017eekovi\u0107 Memorial \u2013 Zagreb (CRO)<\/p>\n 14 July: Gyulai Istv\u00e1n Memorial \u2013 Budapest (HUN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n