The athletics season is heading to its close but first many of the world’s top female stars will compete in London for one final time in 2026.
Billed as ‘the world’s leading all-female track and field meet’, Athlos is held over one night only in a condensed two-hour session featuring one field event and six on the track, and takes place in London for the first time after events in New York in 2024 and 2025. This year the planned New York event, slated for October, has been cancelled.
Each race will consist of six athletes, all competing for a share of a $2.1m (£1.5m) prize pot plus the Athlos crown.
It follows in the footsteps of last weekend’s inaugural World Ultimate Championships in Budapest, a glitzy new competition with record prize money on the line, as different organisers bid to shake up athletics and get more eyeballs on the sport. Athlos - founded by Serena Williams’ husband, the entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian - opens with a red carpet event and DJ set before the athletes take to the track and the serious competition begins.
Paris Olympic gold medallists Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson will compete in the sprint events alongside Britons Daryll Neita and Imani Lansiquot, while European 1500m champion Georgia Hunter Bell faces off against Diamond League and Ultimate champion Klaudia Kazimierska in the mile and Keely Hodgkinson returns to defend her 800m crown.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Athlos?
Athlos takes place on Friday 18 September at the StoneX Stadium in Barnet, home of rugby side Saracens, with the event beginning at 7pm BST.
How can I watch it?
Viewers can watch the event on BBC iPlayer or on YouTube.
Athlos schedule
All times BST
19:08 - 100m hurdles
19:22 - Long jump round 1
19:44 - 100m
19:57 - Long jump final round
20:14 - Mile
20:36 - 400m
20:55 - 800m
21:11 - 200m
Prize money
First Place $65,000
Second Place $35,000
Third Place $20,000
Fourth Place $15,000
Fifth Place $10,000
Sixth Place $6,000
Read MoreLondon loses out to Nairobi in bid to host 2029 World Athletics Championships
Amy Hunt doubles down on Sydney Sweeney ad criticism as she raises ‘barrier’ fears for young girls
Josh Kerr unsure if ‘best year’ enough to earn a place on BBC SPOTY shortlist
