The 2026 World Triathlon Championship Series will explode into life on 28 March in Abu Dhabi, where athletes will not only chase the medals and vital ranking points, but compete for increased prize money at the season opener.

In a major statement of intent for the new season, the WTCS Abu Dhabi Local Organising Committee, who just signed a new 5-year extension, with the continued support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, has upped the prize purse for the first event of the year.

Winners on the iconic Hudayriyat Island sprint-distance course will now take home USD $28,500, with $18,000 for silver and $12,000 for bronze, the most lucrative regular-season prize purse on the Series calendar.

For more than a decade, WTCS Abu Dhabi has stood as one of the most prestigious and reliable pillars of the World Triathlon calendar. Backed by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the event has grown into a world-class showcase of elite triathlon, consistently delivering spectacular racing, global broadcast reach and unforgettable season-defining moments.

Now, in 2026, Abu Dhabi once again raises the bar. As the first of ten stops on the 2026 WTCS circuit, Abu Dhabi offers more than prize money. With 1,000 ranking points awarded to the winners, it represents a critical opportunity to seize early momentum in the race toward the Championship Finals in Pontevedra this September.

The sprint-distance Hudayriyat Island course, which made a glittering debut in 2025, promises fast, aggressive and tactical racing from the very first gun of the season. Following and firing on Sunday will be the year’s first Mixed Team Relay.

Last year, two-time Olympic medallist Hayden Wilde and eventual women’s World Champion Lisa Tertsch triumphed in the UAE heat. In 2026, a stellar lineup is expected once again, including reigning men’s World Champion Matt Hauser, Olympic Champions Alex Yee and Cassandre Beaugrand, and two-time Olympic medallist Beth Potter, all aiming to lay down an early marker in the title race.

While USD $19,000 will be available to winners at the remaining Series events, Abu Dhabi sets the tone with its enhanced prize pool, reinforcing its position as the opening event and a premier destination on the global triathlon stage. Beyond the regular season, an additional USD $100,000 bonus awaits at the Championship Finals for the athletes who, like Tertsch and Hauser last year, can win both the race and secure the world title — ensuring the battle for 2026 supremacy will remain fierce through to the final tape.

With increased prize money, maximum ranking points, and the continued vision and backing of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the 2026 WTCS opener promises to be more than just the first race of the year. It will be the launchpad for world championship dreams. 

Watch it all unfold on TriathlonLive.tv