News

World Triathlon expands the 2026 World Cup calendar and confirms Winter Championships in Padola

by Olalla Cernuda Castro
18 December, 2025 11:12 AM

World Triathlon has confirmed three exciting additions to the 2026 World Cup racing calendar and the staging of the 2026 World Triathlon Winter Championships in Padola, Italy, following the approval of its Executive Board at a meeting held in Doha over the weekend. These new events further strengthen the World Cup circuit, enhance racing opportunities for athletes from all around the world, and reaffirm Italy’s key role in the development of winter triathlon.​

World Triathlon Winter Championships return to Italy

The 2026 World Triathlon Winter Championships will be held in Padola from 27 February to 1 March, marking another chapter in Italy’s strong commitment to the winter edition of the sport after the successful championships hosted in Cogne, Pragelato and Asiago in recent years. 

The programme will follow the established three‑day format. Competition opens on Friday with the Winter Duathlon World Championships for Elite, U23 and Junior athletes over two laps of running and two laps of cross‑country skiing. 

Saturday features the Age‑Group and Para Winter Duathlon Championships, followed by the Elite, U23 and Junior Winter Triathlon Championships, with the Elite racing an 8 km snow run, 12 km snow mountain bike and 12 km cross‑country ski across five transitions and two laps of each discipline, while Age‑Group and Para athletes tackle a half‑distance course with two transitions. 

The event concludes on Sunday with the Age‑Group Standard Distance and  Para Winter Triathlon Championships and the fast‑paced 2x2 Winter Triathlon Mixed Relay for Elites and U23/Juniors. 

“Winter triathlon has a unique ability to showcase the versatility and resilience of our athletes, and Italy has been a magnificent partner in bringing this discipline to life,” said World Triathlon President Antonio F. Arimany. “By returning to Italy for the 2026 World Championships in Padola, we are building on the legacy of Cogne, Pragelato and Asiago and taking another important step towards our long‑term goal of seeing winter triathlon recognised on the biggest sporting stages.”

New World Cups

The Canary Islands, Spain, will welcome a World Triathlon Cup for the first time, with Lanzarote making its debut in the 2026 World Cup season on the weekend of 14 March. Long established as a winter training base thanks to its temperate climate and world‑class facilities, Lanzarote will offer athletes the chance to combine pre‑season preparation with top‑level racing without the need for extensive travel. 

One week later, the World Triathlon Cup Haikou (CHN) will take place on 21–22 March, just one week ahead of the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Series in Abu Dhabi. Strategically positioned on the calendar, Haikou, in the Hainan province, will provide athletes, particularly those based in Asia, with a valuable early‑season test and an ideal stepping stone into the WTCS campaign. 

At the end of the year, the Dubai Women’s Cup will return on 5–6 December after the success of its inaugural edition. The 2026 event will be fully integrated into the World Cup circuit, awarding ranking points in line with all other World Triathlon Cups and maintaining its focus on showcasing and advancing women’s triathlon on a global stage.

“With Lanzarote, Hainan and the Dubai Women’s Cup joining the calendar, the 2026 season will be one of the most dynamic and globally balanced in our history,” said Arimany. “These races will reduce travel burdens, open new high‑quality racing opportunities for athletes on different continents and reinforce our commitment to developing triathlon at every level of the sport.”

Powerman

The Executive Board also approved the extension of World Triathlon’s agreement with the International Powerman Association for the development of the Long Distance and Middle Distance Duathlon, including the annual World Championships through to 2029, ensuring long‑term stability and continued growth for these flagship duathlon events.

Para triathlon

The Executive Board also confirmed the addition of Chiba (JPN) to the para triathlon calendar, with the city set to host a World Triathlon Para Cup on 11 October 2026.

With the newly added events, the 2026 World Triathlon Cup circuit will feature 19 stops, promising a packed season of world‑class racing and storylines from start to finish.

The 2026 calendar: 

WTCS

  • Abu Dhabi, UAE - 27 March

  • Samarkand, UZB - 25-26 April

  • Yokohama, JPN - 16 May

  • Alghero, ITA - 30 May

  • Quiberon, FRA - 20 June

  • Hamburg, GER - 11 July

  • London, GBR - 25 July

  • Weihai, CHN - 29 August

  • Karlovy Vary, CZE - 13 September

  • Pontevedra, ESP - 24-27 September

Mixed Relays

  • Abu Dhabi, UAE - 28 March - Mixed Relay Series

  • Chengdu, CHN - 10 May - Mixed Relay Cup

  • Alghero, ITA - 31 May - Mixed Relay Series

  • Quiberon, FRA - 21 June - Mixed Relay Series

  • Hamburg, GER - 12 July - Mixed Relay World Championships

  • Edmonton, CAN - 19 July - Mixed Relay Cup

  • Rome, ITA - 4 October - Mixed Relay Cup

World Cups

  • Lievin, FRA - 7 March - Indoor

  • Lanzarote, ESP - 14 March

  • Haikou, CHN - 21-22 March

  • Chengdu, CHN - 9 May

  • Huatulco, MEX - 14 June

  • Tiszaujvaros, HUN - 27-28 June

  • Edmonton, CAN - 18 July 

  • Rio de Janeiro, BRA - 1-2 August

  • Asuncion, PAR - 8-9 August

  • Lima, PER - 22-23 August

  • Rome, ITA - 3 October

  • Tongyeong, KOR - 24-25 October

  • Iquique, CHI - 31 October

  • San Pedro de la Paz, CHI - 7-8 November

  • Hong Kong, HKG - 7-8 November

  • Miyazaki, JPN - 14-15 November

  • Tauranga, NZL - November

  • Jeddah, KSA - 28-29 November

  • Dubai, UAE - 5,6 December - Women’s Cup

Para triathlon

  • Devonport, AUS - 13 March - Para Series

  • Abu Dhabi, UAE - 27 March - Para Cup

  • Samarkand, UZB - 25-26 April - Para Cup

  • Yokohama, JPN - 16-17 May - Para Series

  • Besancon, FRA - 20-21 June - Para Cup

  • Montreal, CAN - 27-28 June - Para Series

  • Tegernsee, GER - 4-5 July - Para Cup

  • Hamburg, GER - 11-12 July - Para Series

  • Tata, HUN - 18-19 July - Para Cup

  • Alhandra, POR - 5-6 September - Para Cup

  • Pontevedra, ESP - 25-27 September - Para World Championships

  • Chiba, JPN - 10-11 October - Para Cup

  • Alanya, TUR - 24-25 October - Para Cup

  • San Pedro de la Paz, CHI - 7-8 November - Para Cup

Multisport

  • World Triathlon Winter Championships - Padola, ITA - 27 Feb-1 March

  • Long Distance Duathlon - Zofingen, SUI - 6 Sept

  • Middle Distance Duathlon World Championships - TBC

  • World Triathlon Multisport Championships - Abu Dhabi, UAE - 13-22 Nov

T100 Triathlon World Tour 

  • Gold Coast, Australia (21-22 March)

  • Singapore (25-26 April)

  • Spain (23-24 May)

  • San Francisco (6-7 June)

  • Vancouver (15-16 August, 2026)

  • French Riviera (19-20 September)

  • Dubai (12-13 November)

  • Saudi Arabia (November)

  • Qatar Finals (11-12 December)

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