RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The Saudi Athletics Federation has officially announced the launch of the inaugural Saudi Athletics Grand Prix, scheduled to take place on May 15 and 16, 2026.
The event will be hosted at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Stadium in Riyadh, marking a significant expansion of the Kingdom’s track and field calendar. The competition is expected to feature between 200 and 300 athletes representing over 50 countries. The program includes 31 men’s and women’s track and field events. The Grand Prix will open with a World Athletics Continental Tour meeting (Bronze level), followed by an International Challenge Meeting. This structure is designed to provide elite-level competition and World Athletics ranking points to participating athletes.
Majed Basonbul, Managing Director of the Saudi Athletics Federation, stated that the Grand Prix serves as a strategic precursor to the launch of the Saudi Elite Athletics League, currently planned for 2027. The initiative coincides with the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of Saudi athletics and is aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to position the Kingdom as a destination for international sporting events.
The Federation confirmed that the event will utilize state-of-the-art timing and measurement technology to meet international regulatory standards. Official registration for international participants closed in late April, with several regional champions confirmed to headline the sprint and middle-distance categories.