The IRONMAN World Championship returns to Kona in 2026 with a single day of competition.
The world championship will once again bring together men and women in Hawaii.
HOMBRE DE HIERRO has confirmed that the 2026 World Championship will once again be held entirely in Kona (Hawaii), returning to its original single-day format with men and women competing together.
The test will be held on 10th October 2026 and will bring together about 3.000 triathletes from all over the world in an event that promises to mark a before and after in the history of long-distance triathlon.
This decision comes after extensive consultations with the international triathlon community, in which more than 10.000 athletes shared their views on the future of the championship.
The result was clear: the majority wanted to return to Kona and compete on equal terms, on the same day, without gender divisions or separate venues.
The community was clear: everyone in Kona, together
Since the pandemic, IRONMAN had experimented with different formats, splitting the men's and women's races between Kona and Nice. This measure was intended to alleviate logistical pressure and open up new opportunities for female athletes, but the results were not as expected.
According to the data collected, female participation did not increase And in many cases, athletes of both genders stopped competing after achieving their goal of qualifying for the World Cup.
IRONMAN now acknowledges that the division of days and venues not only failed to generate the desired impact, but in some cases weakened the sense of community within the triathlon family.
New era: same scenario, equal coverage
The 2026 IRONMAN World Championship not only brings back triathlon's most iconic venue, but will implement key improvements to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all participants:
- Equal broadcasting for men and women
- Adjusted start times to ensure fair competition
- New technological solutions to offer an immersive experience
- Greater media coverage in more than 160 countries
All of this with the goal of ensuring that the race is experienced not only by those competing, but also by the millions watching the triathlon from home.
Kona: History, Legend, and Emotion
For many triathletes, competing in Kona is a dream come true. Since the first edition in 1978 in Oahu Until becoming the world reference, the test has crowned legends such as Mark Allen, Paula Newby-Fraser, Jan Frodeno, Daniela Ryf or more recently Gustav Iden y Lucy Charles-Barclay.
In 2022, the Norwegian Gustav Iden He set the men's circuit record with 7:40:24While Lucy Charles-Barclay did the same in 2023 with 8:24:31, setting new standards in Kona, one of the most demanding circuits in the world.
Nice will continue to host the 70.3 World Cup
Although Kona is once again the center of full distance competition, Nice (France) will continue to host the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in 2026 and 2028.
In this way, the historic European city maintains its connection with the franchise, having hosted the 2023 (men's) and 2024 (women's) editions of the IRONMAN World Championship.
