The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has released its annual competition calendar for 2026, expanding from 32 to 40 events to bolster preparations for the Asian Games in Japan and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This ambitious schedule introduces inaugural indoor championships, an upgraded World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet, and a 16-part regional series to boost grassroots participation nationwide. Athletes face stricter qualification norms, requiring multiple prior competitions for major nationals, signalling a push for deeper talent pools and peak performance.
Full Event Breakdown by Phase
January-March (Season Openers)
- 60th National Cross Country Championships: Jan 24, Ranchi.
- 13th Indian Open Race Walking: Feb 21-22, Chandigarh.
- 5th Indian Open Throws: Mar 7-8, Patiala.
- National Indoor Athletics Championships (inaugural): Mar 24-25, Bhubaneswar.
- 5th Indian Open Jumps: Mar 14-15, Bengaluru.
- 7th Indian Open 400m: Mar 28, Trivandrum.
April-June (Series Launch and Nationals)
- Indian Athletics Series Leg 1: Apr 4, Bengaluru; Leg 2: Apr 11, Udaipur; Leg 3: Apr 11, Sangrur.
- 3rd National Open Relay: Apr 18, Chandigarh.
- 24th National Junior Federation Cup: Apr 24-26, Mangalore.
- 29th National Senior Federation Cup: May 22-25, Ranchi (2 prior events req.).
- Indian Indoor Open Combined/Pole Vault: Early May, Bhubaneswar.
- State Senior Meets: May 26-Jun 5 & Jun 21-30, various.
- Series Legs 4-10: Ranchi (May), Chennai (May), Guwahati (Jun 6), Pune (Jun 7), Ludhiana (Jun 13), Trivandrum (Jun 14), Kolkata (Jun 20).
July-September (Peak and Grassroots)
- 65th National Inter-State Senior: Jul 8-12, Bhubaneswar (3 prior events; key qualifier).
- 5th National Javelin Day: Aug 7, all districts (Neeraj Chopra tribute).
- World Athletics Continental Tour Silver: Aug 22, Bhubaneswar.
- Series Legs 11-16: Nadiad (Jun 21), Warangal (Aug 14), Panchkula (Aug 16), Shillong (Aug 29), Bengaluru (Sep 5).
- Junior State Meets: Aug 16-31.
- 21st National Youth (U18): Sep 1-3, Ludhiana.
- Zone Juniors: Sep (Dehradun, Puducherry, Shillong, Patna, Goa, Indore).
- Indian Athletics Series Final (Invitational): Sep 12, New Delhi.
- Board Meets: Sep 14-24.
October (Season Finale)
- 65th National Open Senior: Oct 8-11, New Delhi.
- 6th National U23: Oct 16-18, Jaipur.
- 41st National Junior: Oct 23-27, Chennai.
Read More: Upcoming Sports Events in 2026
Dates and Venues of the Indian Athletics 2026 Championships
| Phase | Key Events | Dates | Venues | Notes /Details |
| Openers | Cross Country, Race Walk, Throws, Jumps, 400m, Indoor Nats | Jan 24-Mar 28 | Ranchi, Chandigarh, Patiala, Bengaluru, Trivandrum, Bhubaneswar | Specialist sharpening; inaugural indoor |
| Series (16 legs) | Nationwide circuit | Apr 4-Sep 5 | 12+ cities (Bengaluru, Udaipur, Sangrur, etc.) | Grassroots talent hunt; state mandatory |
| Senior Nationals | Federation Cup, Inter State, Open | May 22-Oct 11 | Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, New Delhi | 2-3 prior events; Asian/CWG qualifiers |
| Youth/U23/Junior | Youth, U23, Junior Nats + Zones | Sep 1-Oct 27 | Ludhiana, Jaipur, Chennai + 6 zones | Emerging pipeline |
| Special | Relays, Javelin Day, Continental Tour | Apr 18-Aug 22 | Chandigarh, All districts, Bhubaneswar | Global points, promotion |
Broadcast and Ticketing Info
Official broadcast and ticketing information for AFI’s 2026 athletics events has not yet been announced. Fans should monitor indianathletics.in and official AFI social media handles for updates on live broadcast partners, streaming platforms, ticketing details, venue access, entry guidelines, and any event-specific spectator advisories as competition dates approach.
Download Playo on Android or iOS, or visit playo.co to start playing!
Frequently Asked Questions
As of January 2026, the President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is Mr. Bahadur Singh Sagoo. He was elected unopposed in January 2025 and is serving a four-year term from 2025 to 2029. A former Asian Games gold medallist in shot put (2002 Busan) and two-time Olympian, he succeeded Adille Sumariwalla, who had led the federation since 2019.
Selection will prioritise consistent performance across multiple domestic events in 2026, as confirmed by national coach P. Radhakrishnan Nair, emphasising year-round participation over single-meet results.
Athletes must compete in a minimum number of AFI-sanctioned events to qualify: at least two for the Senior Federation Championships and at least three for the Inter-State Senior Championships.
The season kicks off on January 24, 2026, with the 60th National Cross-Country Championships in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
0 Comments