Athletics at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics will take place from 8 to 10 November at the Iba Mar Diop complex in Dakar, Senegal. Across three days, young competitors will contest track races, jumping events, throwing disciplines and race walking. The programme features 36 events, offering spectators a varied schedule of competition throughout the athletics meeting. World Athletics
Athletics Schedule Overview
The competition runs from Sunday through Tuesday, with qualifying rounds and medal events sharing the programme. For athletes entering races with semifinals, advancing successfully will be the first step towards reaching a Youth Olympic final.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Athletics at the IV Summer Youth Olympic Games |
| Host city | Dakar, Senegal |
| Venue | Iba Mar Diop complex |
| Dates | 8–10 November 2026 |
| Events | 36 |
| Schedule abbreviations | SF: Semifinals; F: Final |
However, individual event dates require careful checking. The supplied schedule differs from the current World Athletics listing for the women’s 100 metres. That listing places both the semifinals and final on Sunday, 8 November, rather than showing the final on Monday. Fans should therefore treat the supplied daily breakdown as provisional. World Athletics
Sunday, 8 November: Opening Day
In the supplied programme, Sunday combines sprint semifinals with several finals in distance running and field events. The men’s 3000 metres, long jump and hammer throw appear among the opening day’s medal competitions.
The women’s programme lists finals in the 2000 metres steeplechase, pole vault, triple jump and discus throw. These disciplines bring contrasting challenges, from clearing barriers under fatigue to producing a technically precise jump or throw.
Opening rounds also give spectators an early opportunity to assess emerging contenders. In short races, a strong start and controlled finish can make the difference between progression and elimination.
Monday, 9 November: Finals Across Multiple Disciplines
The supplied Monday schedule includes the men’s 1500 metres and 2000 metres steeplechase finals, alongside high jump, shot put and discus throw.
For women, the listed finals include the 3000 metres, long jump and javelin throw. Several shorter track races also appear on Monday in the supplied table, although the women’s 100 metres discrepancy highlights why updated event listings matter.
The variety makes this a particularly interesting day for viewers who enjoy following several disciplines. Distance races reward pacing and tactical awareness, while field competitions can change dramatically with a single successful attempt.
Tuesday, 10 November: Closing Athletics Session
Tuesday’s supplied programme features the men’s and women’s 5000 metres race walks, together with hurdles and middle-distance finals.
The published World Athletics timetable proposal places both rounds of the men’s and women’s 200 metres on Tuesday. This clarifies the extra, unlabelled final column in the supplied table: the semifinals and finals belong to the same day. Other listed closing events include men’s pole vault, triple jump and javelin, plus women’s high jump, shot put and hammer throw. worldathletics.org
Planning Your Viewing
Before making viewing plans, check the latest organiser or World Athletics timetable for confirmed dates and session times. With competition concentrated into three days, keeping an updated schedule nearby will help spectators follow their favourite events and avoid missing important finals.