From local sprint triathlons to World Championship qualifiers — browse the 2026 race calendar, find your perfect event, and get everything you need to show up ready.
Our editorial team's picks for the most exciting, well-organized, and bucket-list-worthy triathlon events of the year.
A legendary full-distance race along the French Riviera. Swim in the Baie des Anges, bike through the Alps, and run the Promenade des Anglais to the finish. Stunning and brutal in equal measure.
One of the biggest triathlon events in the world with over 10,000 age group participants alongside the elite WTCS race. Swim in the Alster, bike through the city, run past the finish line crowds.
A legendary full-distance race through the Adirondack Mountains. Double-loop swim in Mirror Lake, two-loop bike through the mountains, and a run through the iconic Olympic village.
Represent your age group on the national stage. Sprint and Olympic distance races on a fast Lake Michigan course. Earn your slot for the Age Group World Championships.
Sprint to Ironman — all distances, all levels. Filter by distance to find your race.
A legendary full-distance race along the French Riviera. Swim in the Baie des Anges, bike through the Alps, and run the Promenade des Anglais to the finish. Stunning and brutal in equal measure.
Entry from
€595
One of the biggest triathlon events in the world with over 10,000 age group participants alongside the elite WTCS race. Swim in the Alster, bike through the city, run past the finish line crowds.
Entry from
$195
A legendary full-distance race through the Adirondack Mountains. Double-loop swim in Mirror Lake, two-loop bike through the mountains, and a run through the iconic Olympic village.
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$825
Elite triathlon in the heart of London with the Houses of Parliament as a backdrop. One of the most prestigious stops on the World Triathlon Championship Series circuit.
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Spectator event
Half-distance racing in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies. A scenic and challenging course that rewards strong cyclists. Great summer racing in one of Canada's most beautiful cities.
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CAD $395
A quintessential New England 70.3. Swim in Lake Cobbosseecontee, bike through rolling Maine farmland, and run through downtown Augusta. Cool summer temps make for fast racing.
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$325
The premier youth triathlon competition in the US. Future stars of the sport compete for national titles and opportunities to represent Team USA internationally.
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$125
Full-distance racing in Canada's capital city. Swim in the Ottawa River, bike through the scenic Gatineau Hills, and run a finish line loop through downtown Ottawa.
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CAD $895
Represent your age group on the national stage. Sprint and Olympic distance races on a fast Lake Michigan course. Earn your slot for the Age Group World Championships.
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$185
Northern California's premier 70.3 on Shasta Lake. Warm summer conditions, beautiful scenery, and a challenging course through the Sacramento Valley foothills.
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$325
Long-course national championship racing in the Finger Lakes region of New York. No qualification required — open to all USAT members looking to compete at the ultra distance.
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$185
One of the largest triathlons in North America. Swim in Lake Michigan, bike along Lake Shore Drive, and run through Grant Park. Sprint, Olympic, and Triple Challenge distances available.
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$265
A full-distance IRONMAN in the heart of France's spa country. Swim in the Allier River, bike through the Auvergne countryside, and run through the historic thermal resort town of Vichy.
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€595
Round 8 of the WTCS on China's Shandong peninsula. Elite draft-legal racing with the Yellow Sea as a backdrop.
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Spectator event
One of the most scenic triathlons in the country at Zuma Beach, set against the backdrop of the Pacific Coast Highway. Sprint and Olympic distances available. Celebrity-friendly and beginner-welcoming.
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$173
The pinnacle of the 70.3 distance. Qualification required. Swim in the Mediterranean, bike through the French Alps, and run the Promenade des Anglais. Nice hosts the championship for the second time.
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Qualification required
A fan favorite full-distance race around Lake Monona in downtown Madison. Famous for its electric crowd support and challenging rolling bike course through the Wisconsin countryside.
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$825
Round 9 of the WTCS in the stunning spa town of Karlovy Vary. Elite racing through one of Europe's most architecturally beautiful cities.
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Spectator event
The culminating event of the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Series. Crowns the world champions across elite and age group categories in the beautiful Galician city of Pontevedra.
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$195
San Diego's premier triathlon at Liberty Station in Point Loma. Swim in San Diego Bay, bike through the peninsula, and run through NTC Park. Sprint and Olympic distances in one of America's most beautiful race settings.
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$150
The most iconic race in triathlon. Men and women compete on the same day for the first time since 2019. Qualification required through IRONMAN-sanctioned races worldwide. The ultimate bucket-list event.
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Qualification required
Swim the Hudson River, bike through Central Park, and run along Riverside Drive in one of the world's great cities. Sprint and Olympic distances with a dramatic Manhattan skyline backdrop.
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$499
San Diego's beloved Mission Bay Triathlon. Sprint and Olympic distances on the calm, protected waters of Mission Bay — a perfect race for beginners and seasoned athletes alike. One of Southern California's most popular fall triathlons.
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$125
The longest-running triathlon held at the same location in the world. The Cal Tri National Championship Race at Newport Dunes offers Sprint, Olympic, and SwimRun formats on one of Southern California's most scenic courses.
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$139
Race weekend is the culmination of weeks or months of training — and it can also be the most chaotic, logistically complex 48 hours of your life if you haven't done it before.
The expo, the packet pickup, the bike racking, the transition walk-through, the nervous dinner, the 4am alarm — we'll walk you through all of it so you arrive at the start line calm, prepared, and ready to race.
The athletes who handle race weekend best are the ones who've done most of the thinking in advance. Use our guide below, stick to your plan, and save your mental energy for the race itself.
Racing somewhere new adds a layer of logistical complexity — and infinite adventure. Here's how to manage the former so you can enjoy the latter.
Book accommodation within 20 minutes of transition if possible
Research bike shipping vs. rental well in advance (3+ months)
Always add one extra race day's worth of nutrition in your luggage
Check weather forecasts obsessively starting 5 days before race day
Ask your hotel if they have secure bike storage — not all do
Know the nearest hospital or urgent care, just in case
The sport is challenging. The community makes it worth it. Here's how to engage beyond just racing.
Volunteering at a triathlon before you race one is the single best education you can get. You'll see transitions, nutrition stations, and finish lines from every angle. Most major races always need volunteers.
Bring a race map, spot your athlete at multiple points, and know where the jumbotron will be. Pro tip: the swim exit is always worth the early alarm — it's the most dramatic two minutes of the race.
Most race weekends have informal athlete meetups the day before. Check race social media groups, look for tri club banners at the expo, and introduce yourself. The triathlon community is genuinely one of the friendliest in sport.
Browse our full race calendar, plan your season, and join 1,200+ triathletes who train, race, and improve together in the Triathlon Universe community.