In 2026, the best indoor athletes will gather

The 2026 NCAA indoor track and field season is here, and we have some exciting meets ahead of us. Here are some appointments you won’t want to miss.

The best indoor track and field athletes to watch in 2026

Season openings

• Clemson Opener | December 5 | Host: Clemson
• HBCU & Ivy Challenge | December 5 | Host: Harvard
• Sharon Colvear-Danville season opener | December 6 | Host: Boston University
• McFerrin Invitational | December 6 | Host: Texas A&M
• JDL Early Bird Invitation | December 6 | Host: Wake up the forest
• Winter Commodore Challenge | December 6 | Host: Vanderbilt
• Husker Holiday Open | December 12 | Host: Nebraska

The indoor track season officially begins on the first weekend of December. While we may not see every student-athlete start their season this week, we will see plenty of debuts.

Back from the weekend

• Clemson Invitational | January 9-10| Host: Clemson
• Rod McCravy Invitational | January 9-10 | Host: Kentucky
• Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitation | January 10 | Host: Houston
• Gamecock opener | January 10 | Host: South Carolina
• Arkansas Invitational | January 16 | Host: Arkansas
• Corky Classic | January 16-17 | Host: Texas Tech
• UW Indoor Preview | January 16-17 | Host: Washington
• Virginia Tech Invitational | January 16-17 | Host: Virginia Tech

After the holiday break, the best athletics facilities of the host country met. Two of South Carolina’s top schools should make quick time at their conference. Rod McCravy is always exciting. The middle of the month will see us host this year’s indoor championships, the Arkansas Invitational.

Mid-season races

• Invitation by Ted Nelson | January 23-24 | Host: Texas A&M
• Dr. Sander’s Invitational Columbia Test | January 23-24 | Host: Columbus
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitation | January 23-24 | Host: New Mexico
• Razorback Invitational | January 30-31 | Host: Arkansas
• Team New Mexico Open | January 30-31| Host: New Mexico
• Invitation by Bob Pollock | January 30-31 | Host: Clemson
• John Thomas Terrier Classic | Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. 1| Host: Boston University
• Welcome to DeLoss Doggs | January 30-31 | Host: Kansas State
• 117th Millrose Games | February 1 Armory in New York
• New Mexico Collegiate Classic | February 6-7 | Host: New Mexico
• Invitation by Charlie Thomas | February 6-7 | Host: Texas A&M
• Carolina Classic | February 6-7 | South Carolina

By the end of January, indoor track and field teams will have long-lastingly shaken off any rust and are deep into the regular season. At the end of January, there are exciting meets all over the country showcasing sprinters, distance runners and more.

And let’s not forget about the historic Millrose Festival in February. A great meeting at The Armory is not to be missed.

The busiest weekend in the indoor arena

• Tyson’s Invitational | February 13-14 | Host: Arkansas
• David Henry Valentine Invitation | February 13-14 | Host: Boston University
• Don Kirby Elite Invitational |Feb. 13-14| Host: New Mexico
• Jarvis Scott Invitational|Feb. 13-14| Host: Texas Tech
• Husky Classic |Feb. 13-14| Host: Washington
• Tiger Paw Invitational |Feb. 14-15| Host: Clemson
• Music City Challenge | February 14-15 | Host: Vanderbilt

With exactly one month to go until the DI Indoor Track and Field Championships, it will be the busiest weekend in indoor college track and field. The best teams and the best athletes will compete against each other. There are so many great meets this weekend that some teams are split between multiple meets. Expect records to fall across the country.

The last chance matches

• Arkansas Qualifiers | February 20 | Host: Arkansas
• Invitation by Alex Wilson | February 20-21 | Host: Notre Dame
• Virginia Tech Challenge|Feb. 20-21| Host: Virginia Tech
• Terrier DMR Challenge |Feb. 22| Host: Boston University
• USC Invite | February 22 | Host: South Carolina

It will be the last weekend of the season and last chance meets will be running across the country. The Terrier DMR Challenge will give college teams one last chance to work on DMR bookings, transfers and more. With the conference championships coming up, this will be the deadline for some DMR teams to qualify for the national finals, and for others, the last weekend to qualify for the conference championships.

Postseason meetings

Most D.I conference championship It will be held on the weekend of Friday, February 27.

Two weeks later DI Indoor Track and Field Championships March 13 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.