USA Track and Field announced on Tuesday that the 2026 Outdoor and Para National Championships will be held in New York for the first time on July 23-26 at Icahn Stadium.
The event has been held annually since 1993, but never staged in New York City.
Despite being a non-Olympic or world championships year, the event will likely pull in the top American track and para athletes who will now get an opportunity to compete for national titles in front of a New York City-based crowd.
“The Toyota USTAF Outdoor and Para National Championships are annually among the most exciting track and field events on the global calendar,” Max Siegel, CEO of USATF said. “We are excited for the opportunity to hold our marquee meet in New York City where the United States’ top runners, jumpers and throwers will get to showcase their talents in front of new and longtime fans.”
Icahn Stadium, on Randall’s Island Park, has a capacity of 5,000 but is expandable and will likely gain additional space to keep up with a bump in demand for the meet. The stadium’s track was resurfaced in September in time for the second Athlos showcase the following month.
Meanwhile, the event will be joint effort for USATF with local running organizations New York Road Runners, Central Park Track Club and Randall’s Island Park Alliance all collaborating on bringing the this year’s championships to New York City,
“From Triborough Stadium to Icahn Stadium, Randall’s Island Park has hosted some of the most memorable moments in track and field history over the past 90 years,” Randall’s Island Park Alliance president Deborah Maher said. “New York City’s prolific running community makes it the perfect setting for this year’s USATF Outdoor Championships, and Icahn Stadium’s rich legacy makes it an ideal venue. The Randall’s Island Park Alliance is honored to host these championships.”
Last year’s outdoor championships in Eugene were the first time able-bodied and para events were held as a combined meet with both divisions now under USATF’s guidance. The change was made official in January 2024 with the goal of ensuring that athletes under both units have access to equal resources and prize money at the highest levels of competition.
“We are thrilled to welcome back the 2027 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships and Para National Championships,” TrackTown USA CEO Michael Reilly said. “It is an honor to host the nation’s best athletes at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Working together with our partners in Eugene and Springfield, I’m confident that fans from across the country will have an amazing experience cheering on their favorite athletes as they compete for a spot on Team USA.”
