USA Track & Field has announced that the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships will take place in New York City for the first time. The event is scheduled for July 23-26 at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island Park. This marks a historic moment for the championships, which have been held annually since 1993 but never before in the city.
The 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships will be hosted at Icahn Stadium at Randall’s Island Park, in collaboration with USATF-New York, Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Central Park Track Club, and New York Road Runners. The stadium, a NYC Parks facility operated by the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, seats 5,000 spectators and can expand for larger crowds. It features a brand-new Mondo track surface installed in late 2025 and is accessible from all five boroughs.
USATF CEO Max Siegel highlighted the event's significance: “The Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships are annually among the most exciting track and field events on the global calendar. 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.”
This combined able-bodied and para event builds on USATF's 2025 integration, when U.S. teams won a record 25 gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. With no world championships in 2026, athletes are preparing for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles.
Randall’s Island Park has a rich track and field history, hosting memorable moments over 90 years. The last national championship in New York was the 1991 Athletics Congress of the USA event at the site of the current Icahn Stadium, where Leroy Burrell set a 100m world record of 9.90 seconds. Earlier records include Bill Toomey's decathlon in 1966. Icahn Stadium has also seen international feats, such as Usain Bolt's 100m world record in 2008 and David Rudisha's fastest 800m on U.S. soil in 2012 during Diamond League meets.
Randall’s Island Park Alliance President Deborah Maher said: “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. 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.”
Central Park Track Club Executive Director Devon Martin added: “Central Park Track Club is absolutely thrilled to co-host the USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships as part of our long history of supporting New York City athletes for the national and international stage. This is one of the most exciting events ever for the whole NYC running community.”
New York Road Runners CEO Rob Simmelkjaer noted: “As the nonprofit that ‘runs’ New York City and the producer of 60 annual adult and youth races including the TCS New York City Marathon, we’re thrilled to work with USATF to bring this iconic event to our community. Whether on the roads or on the track, we believe in the power of movement to transform lives and are excited to inspire New Yorkers to lace up as they witness world-class performances from the country’s top track and field athletes in their backyard.”
Since 2021, the championships have been at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, site of the 2025 inaugural combined event. They will return there in 2027. Qualifying standards will be announced soon, with tickets available in spring. The event will stream on USATF.tv July 23-24 and broadcast live on NBC July 25-26.
