Returning to its Hawaiian roots with men and women racing together, IRONMAN has confirmed that the IRONMAN World Championship will return to a single-day format in Kona, Hawai`i, from 2026. Male and female athletes will race together on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
According to IRONMAN, the decision was driven by extensive athlete feedback that showed strong support for a unified championship experience in Kona – the traditional home of the event for over four decades.
IRONMAN CEO Scott DeRue said “We understand the importance of the IRONMAN World Championship, both its history and legacy in the sport of triathlon as well as what it means for the future of our sport and to our community.
“Over the past year, we have listened to our community, engaged thousands of athletes from around the world, and learned a great deal about what our athletes aspire to, what they need and want, and ultimately how we can evolve the IRONMAN World Championship to best serve our athletes and the future growth of the sport.
“When it comes to the most important race on the triathlon calendar, we owe it to our community to listen to their feedback, to have the courage to try new things, and to make principled decisions that serve the long-term interests of the sport.
“While there is no shortage of ideas when it comes to the future of the IRONMAN World Championship, one thing is clear: a significant majority of women and men want the same two things – to race together, and do that at the beating heart of our sport in Kona, Hawai`i.”
County of Hawaiʻi Mayor Kimo Alameda added “Kona has always been the heart and soul of the IRONMAN World Championship, and we are excited to see this iconic event return to its roots in 2026.
“We want to thank IRONMAN for the diligence that went into making this decision, which honors the wishes of the Kona community and athletes. This championship is more than just a race; it’s a celebration of athletic excellence and unity, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen the bond between Hawaiʻi Island and the global IRONMAN ʻohana.”
The event format in 2026 is expected to welcome nearly 3,000 athletes. IRONMAN adds that it will include operational updates such as… ‘fairer start times, enhanced coverage, and equal broadcast exposure for professional men’s and women’s races.’
Two-day format did not boost female participation
The 2023 edition of the IRONMAN World Championship introduced split locations for men and women – Kona for women, Nice for men – after previous two-day racing in Kona proved unsustainable for the local community. IRONMAN noted that while this approach offered logistical benefits and international reach, it did not deliver on a key objective: increasing women’s participation.
Community feedback from over 10,000 athletes revealed that scenarios excluding Kona consistently ranked lowest, while the split format led to a decline in return participation, particularly among women.
IRONMAN expects the 2026 event to generate more than US$100 million in economic impact for Hawai`i. The event organiser also confirmed that broadcast innovations would expand global viewership to more than 140 million people across 160 countries.
Nice confirmed as 70.3 World Championship host
Alongside the Kona announcement, IRONMAN has extended its partnership with the city of Nice, France, which will host the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in 2026 and 2028, with an option for 2030.
Nice previously hosted the 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, the 2023 men’s IRONMAN World Championship, and the upcoming 2024 women’s edition.
By 2028, Nice will have hosted six IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships – second only to Kona.
Details on qualifying events and slot allocations for the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship will be released in the coming weeks.
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