If the feedback IRONMAN has received is to be believed, the news that the full-distance World Championships are returning to a one-day spectacular in Kona from 2026 onwards will be celebrated by the majority of age-groupers.
The biggest criticism of the format which was introduced in 2023 was the fact that the women and men raced in separate locations – Kona, Hawai’i and Nice, France – each year.
But the one-off 2022 version before that in Kona, where the women raced on Thursday and the men on Saturday proved to be unsustainable for the island.
And that means that from next year it will all be back to the one day – October 10 – but that does leave plenty of questions still to be answered, particularly from an age-group perspective so here’s what we know so far…
A “re-imagined” return to the Big Island
IRONMAN say that it will be a “re-imagined” World Championships in Kona next year.
Numbers-wise it will “welcome nearly 3,000 of the most competitive and committed triathletes in the world to compete at the highest level and challenge themselves on the most iconic course in the sport of triathlon.”
And they call that “a measured increase compared to prior single-day editions of the event in Kona.” For 2025, there are circa. 1495 slots available for women to race on the Big Island. So that 3,000 will be almost double the number of amateurs taking to the race course for 2026.
For age-groupers and PROs alike, one of the main questions is likely to be how IRONMAN will manage the return to a big one day event and mitigate the reasons the split happened in the first place. Both in terms of equal coverage and fairness in the PRO racing. But also making sure the race experience for amateurs isn’t compromised by the sheer volume of people out on the race course. And the Island can handle the volume of triathletes descending upon its shores.
Details at the moment are limited but IRONMAN add that “the focus is innovation and elevating the race experience.”
They promise: “Innovations in start times, swim waves, and competition rules will support competitive integrity and fairness among athletes. For example, we will be expanding the time between start waves for professional men, professional women and age group athletes.”
The lure of Kona
The 2026 IRONMAN World Championship Kona will be the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with over 94,000 athletes around the world striving for one of those coveted qualifying slots.
IRONMAN themselves have recognised that the ‘not Kona’ effect has seen far lower take rates of Nice slots – and an inadvertent fuelling of an “expedited departure from long distance triathlon” for athletes. So will the return of one big race on the big Island see more age-groupers return to the full IRONMAN distance in pursuit of a Kona slot? And will that make getting a slot harder? Time – and awards ceremonies – will tell.
For now, those eagerly awaiting details to start planning their Kona 2026 qualification campaign will need a little patience with IRONMAN saying for now: “A full list of qualifying events and slot allotment for the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship will be available in the coming weeks.”
But we do know that slots for men and women will not be equal, with IRONMAN explaining: “While qualifying slots will remain proportionate for age-group athletes, we will continue to provide additional slot opportunities and avenues that support growth for women and programs like Legacy athletes, PC/ ID athletes, IRONMAN Foundation Athletes, etc.”
