World’s best sprinters and jumpers headline Friday’s opening day at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 in Torun, Poland, with four titles on the line and live coverage available for every session.
Day 1 overview
The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships open on Friday, 20 March in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region, with competition running through Sunday, 22 March at Arena Torun. Four gold medals are scheduled for the opening day: the men’s 60m, women’s high jump, women’s shot put and men’s triple jump.
Read more: How to Watch Day 1 of the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2026
For viewers in the United States, the day’s programme begins in the early morning and continues into the afternoon, with all times below listed in Eastern time. Morning action focuses on combined events and early rounds on the track, before the spotlight shifts to the evening finals.
Morning session schedule (ET)
The opening event on Friday is the 60m dash for the men’s heptathlon at 5:05 a.m. Eastern, launching the seven-discipline contest. The open men’s 60m follows at 5:20 a.m., with Olympic and world 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson, defending champion Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain and world leader and U.S. champion Jordan Anthony among the leading sprinters.
The first rounds of the women’s and men’s 400m and 800m are also scheduled for the morning session, setting the stage for later semi-finals and finals. The women’s high jump final at 6:39 a.m. Eastern delivers the first medals of the championships.
Day 1 – 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships Schedule
Day 1 morning timetable – Friday 20 March (Eastern Time)
- Men’s 60m Heptathlon – 5:05 a.m. (Startlist)
- Men’s 60m Round 1 – 5:20 a.m. (Startlist)
- Men’s Long Jump Heptathlon – 5:53 a.m. (Startlist)
- Women’s 400m Round 1 – 6:08 a.m. (Startlist)
- Women’s High Jump Final – 6:39 a.m. (Startlist)
- Men’s 400m Round 1 – 6:56 a.m. (Startlist)
- Women’s 800m Round 1 – 7:38 a.m. (Startlist)
- Men’s Shot Put Heptathlon – 7:57 a.m. (Startlist)
- Men’s 800m Round 1 – 8:21 a.m. (Startlist)
Afternoon session and four finals
The afternoon session opens with the women’s shot put final at 1:10 p.m. Eastern, the second field-event title of the day. The men’s heptathlon continues with the high jump at 1:16 p.m. as the all-rounders look to stay in medal contention.
First-round races in the women’s and men’s 1500m follow, ahead of the women’s and men’s 400m semi-finals which will determine the lanes for the next day’s medal races. The men’s triple jump final at 2:35 p.m. and the men’s 60m final at 4:22 p.m. are expected to produce some of the most explosive performances of the opening day.
Day 1 afternoon timetable – Friday 20 March (Eastern Time)
- Women’s Shot Put Final – 1:10 p.m. (Start list)
- Men’s High Jump Heptathlon – 1:16 p.m. (Start list)
- Women’s 1500m Round 1 – 1:22 p.m. (Start list)
- Men’s 1500m Round 1 – 1:54 p.m. (Start list)
- Men’s Triple Jump Final – 2:35 p.m. (Start list)
- Women’s 400m Semi-final – 2:42 p.m.
- Men’s 60m Semi-final – 3:16 p.m.
- Men’s 400m Semi-final – 3:44 p.m.
- Men’s 60m Final – 4:22 p.m.
Viewing and live updates
Live streaming and broadcast coverage are available through rights-holding broadcasters and digital platforms in the United States and worldwide. Fans can stay up to date with live results and updated start lists throughout Day 1 as the first four world indoor titles of Kujawy Pomorze 26 are decided.
