More than 4,000 athletes will head to Hudayriyat Island
Start stretching, Abu Dhabi. The world’s multisport stars are coming to town.
Organisers of the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Abu Dhabi have revealed the official race routes ahead of the 10-day sporting spectacular, which will bring more than 4,000 athletes to Hudayriyat Island from 13 to 22 November.
And this is no ordinary triathlon. The championships will feature six different disciplines, including Duathlon, Cross Duathlon, Aquathlon, Long Distance Aquabike, Cross Triathlon and Long Distance Triathlon.
It is also a pretty big moment for the region, with Abu Dhabi becoming the first destination in the Middle East and North Africa to host the championships.
More than 35 National Federations have already signed up, with athletes from Great Britain, the US, Australia and Brazil among those expected to compete.
The UAE will be bringing its biggest-ever multisport team too, with more than 160 athletes already confirmed as qualification continues.
The action will all centre around 321 Sports on Hudayriyat Island, which will become the Championship Village and the place to be between races.
As for the courses, expect plenty of variety. Competitors will swim through the waters surrounding Hudayriyat, cycle along coastal roads and purpose-built tracks, tackle mountain bike trails and take on trail-running routes.
Some races will even cross Hudayriyat Bridge, giving athletes some seriously scenic views of the Abu Dhabi coastline and skyline.
The schedule kicks off on 13 November with the WTCS Abu Dhabi Elite Sprint Races, before moving through the various championship events and culminating in the Long Distance Triathlon and Aquabike World Championships on 22 November.
And because no Abu Dhabi event is complete without something happening after the finish line, there will be community activities, entertainment and live concerts, with the soon-to-open Velodrome Abu Dhabi forming part of the Championship Village and concerts planned at Surf Abu Dhabi.
Judging by the line-up, November is shaping up to be one for the sporting calendar.
13 to 22 November, Hudayriyat Island. For further information, visit events.triathlon.org
