World Athletics Indoor Championships

Last Updated: 31 march 2026

IAAF World Athletics Indoor Championships have been held every 2 years since 1985 by the International Amateur Athletics Federation.

Spain has hosted the Championships most often in Seville (1991), in Barcelona (1995) and in Valencia (2008).

12 of the 16 championships have been held in Europe.

2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships: Venue and Dates

2028 World Indoor Athletics Championships have already been included in the international calendar, but the official dates and location have not yet been announced.

The tournament is expected to be held in late winter or early spring. The competition format will remain the same: leading athletes from various countries will participate, and competition will be concentrated in the main events of the program.

Key Favorites and Participants

Traditionally, the USA, Great Britain, Japan, Ethiopia, and Jamaica are strong contenders at the championships. These teams regularly take podium places and set a high level of competition.

In indoor arenas, it’s often not just speed that matters, but also the ability to adapt to the conditions. Therefore, new names often emerge at the tournament, capable of challenging the favorites.

History of the championship

The first World Athletics Indoor Championships took place in Paris in 1985. Before 2003, the championships were held in odd-numbered years; since 2004 they have been held in even-numbered years.

Maria Mutola from Mozambique is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the World Athletics Indoor Championships. She has 9 medals to her credit: 7 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

Russian athlete Natalya Nazarova competed from 1999 to 2010. She also has 9 medals consisting of 7 gold and 2 silver.

Among the countries with the most medals are athletes from the United States (101 gold, 63 silver and 67 bronze).

What you need to know about the tournament

The championship program includes sprints, middle-distance running, hurdles, jumping, and technical events. All competitions are held indoors, making them more dynamic and time-efficient.

The tournament is characterized by a high level of results: the difference between winners and runners-up is often minimal, and the outcome is decided by fractions of a second.

Previous championships results

The year	Venue	Results / Places by country
2026	Torun, Poland	1 – USA (gold – 5, silver – 7, bronze – 6) 2 – Great Britain (gold – 4, silver – 0, bronze – 0) 3 – Italy (gold – 3, silver – 2, bronze – 0)
2025	Nanjing, China	1 – USA (gold – 6, silver – 4, bronze – 6) 2 – Norway (gold – 3, silver – 0, bronze – 1) 3 – Ethiopia (gold – 2, silver – 3, bronze – 0)
2024	Glasgow, UK	1 – USA (gold – 6, silver – 9, bronze – 5) 2 – Belgium (gold – 3, silver – 0, bronze – 1) 3 – New Zealand (gold – 2, silver – 2, bronze – 0)