In 2026, multiple world records were set in the sport of athletics.
World records
Indoor EventAthlete(s)DateMeetingLocationMen's 1:42.50 minR"Ratified: world records for Hoey, Kejelcha and Yamanishi", World Athletics, 1 June 2026. Retrieved 3 September 2026.Josh Hoey24 Jan 2026New Balance Grand PrixBoston"Hoey breaks world 800m short track record with 1:42.50 in Boston", World Athletics, 24 January 2026. Retrieved 3 September 2026.Men's 7:10.29 minR"Ratified: world records for Sawe, Ehammer, Charlton and more", World Athletics, 23 July 2026. Retrieved 3 September 2026.Clay PenderLuke HouserLuciano FioreSean Dolan6 Feb 2026Penn ClassicPhiladelphiaMen's 44.52 sRKhaleb McRae13 Feb 2026Tyson InvitationalFayettevilleWomen's 1:54.87 minKeely Hodgkinson19 Feb 2026Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-CalaisLiévinMeeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF Arena Stade Couvert, Liévin (FRA) (indoor) 19 FEB 2026 World AthleticsMen's 17:54.48 minFrancesco Fortunato28 Feb 2026Italian ChampionshipsAnconaMen's 6.31 mRArmand Duplantis12 Mar 2026Mondo ClassicUppsalaMen's 6670 ptsRSimon Ehammer20-21 Mar 2026World Indoor ChampionshipsToruńWomen's 7.65 sRDevynne Charlton22 Mar 2026
Outdoor EventAthlete(s)DateMeetingLocationMen's half marathon race walk1:20:34 hRToshikazu Yamanishi15 Feb 2026Japanese Half Marathon Race Walking ChampionshipsKobeMen's half marathon57:20 minR"Ratified: world records for Kiplimo, Tharp and Wanyonyi", World Athletics, 3 September 2026. Retrieved 4 September 2026.Jacob Kiplimo8 Mar 2026Lisbon Half MarathonLisbonMen's marathon1:59:30 hRSebastian Sawe26 Apr 2026London MarathonLondon CNNWomen's marathon2:15:41 hRTigst AssefaMixed 40.07 sEliezer AdjibiMarie-Éloïse Leclair Duan AsemotaAudrey Leduc2 May 2026World RelaysGaborone39.99 sAckeem BlakeTina ClaytonKadrian GoldsonTia Clayton2 May 2026World RelaysGaborone39.62 s3 May 2026World RelaysGaboroneMen's 12.75 sRJa'Kobe Tharp10 Jun 2026NCAA DI Men's Outdoor ChampionshipsEugeneMen's 2:11.83 minREmmanuel Wanyonyi10 Jul 2026HerculisMonacoMen's 3:42.66 minJosh Kerr18 Jul 2026London Athletics MeetLondonWomen's half marathon race walk1:30:06 hMaría Pérez15 Aug 2026European ChampionshipsBirminghamWomen's half marathon race walk3:15:11 hSofia FioriniWomen's 12.09 sMasai Russell27 Aug 2026Weltklasse ZürichZürichMen's 45.80 sAlison dos Santos
Competitions Global 2026 World Athletics Indoor Tour (13 December 2025 – 12 March 2026) 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships (10 January 2026) 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour (17 January – 1 November 2026) 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships (20–22 March 2026) 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships (12 April 2026) 2026 World Athletics Relays (2–3 May 2026) 2026 Diamond League (16 May – 5 September 2026) 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship (11–13 September 2026)
Regional Athletics at the 2026 Commonwealth Games (27 July − 1 August 2026) 2026 European Athletics Championships (10–16 August 2026)
Reference