The athletics season will end with a new competition in 2026 -- and it comes with a punchy name, a condensed format and $10 million on the line.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship will take place in Budapest from Sept. 11-13, bringing many of the world's leading athletes together for what organisers hope will become the sport's definitive season-ending event.
So what exactly is the Ultimate Championship, why is it taking place, who is competing for Team GB and how can fans watch it in the UK? Here's everything you need to know.
What is the World Athletics Ultimate Championship?
World Athletics wanted another major global championship in years where there is no outdoor World Athletics Championships, and so enter the World Athletics Ultimate Championship -- a three-day competition bringing together many of the world's best track and field athletes.
The all-new event will take place biennially in even-numbered years and provides a season-ending showdown between Olympic champions, reigning world champions, Diamond League winners and the highest-ranked athletes in each discipline.
Unlike the traditional World Athletics Championships, which takes place over nine days, the Ultimate Championship has been designed as a shorter, faster competition; streamlined with the aim of appealing to a younger audience. Fields are smaller, there are fewer rounds and the entire programme is condensed into three evening sessions.
The inaugural edition features 28 events -- 26 individual disciplines and two mixed relays -- with almost 400 athletes expected to compete.
How does it work?
Get ready for fast-placed action from start to finish: in Hungary, there will be no heats and little opportunity for athletes to ease themselves into the competition.
The 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and hurdles events begin with two eight-athlete semifinals, with the top four in each progressing to the final. The 1500m, 5000m and relays go straight to a final, as do all field events.
The field events also have a new 8-8-6-4 format. All eight athletes receive two attempts, the top six progress to the third round and only the leading four get a fourth and final attempt.
Qualification is similarly selective. Olympic champions from Paris 2024 and world champions from Tokyo 2025 are among those guaranteed invitations, while winners at the 2026 Diamond League Final and the leading athletes in the world rankings can also secure places. There are also "exceptional invitations," effectively wildcards selected by World Athletics ensuring as many global, and homegrown, stars as possible are involved.
For the two mixed relays, the World Athletics Relays provides the main route to Budapest. The top six teams in both the mixed 4x100m and mixed 4x400m in Gaborone qualified automatically, with the remaining two places in each event decided by the world top lists.
Unlike at most major championships, there is no limit on how many athletes from one country can compete in an individual event.
Why is there $10m in prize money?
The $10m prize pot is the largest ever offered at a single track and field event, with every athlete who competes receiving prize money.
Winning an individual event is worth $150,000, while second place receives $75,000 and third $40,000.
The significant financial rewards are central to World Athletics' attempts to attract the sport's biggest names and create genuine jeopardy at the end of the season.
There will not, however, be any medals. Winners will instead receive an Ultimate Champion trophy, which connects with a participation token given to every athlete competing in Budapest.
Which Team GB athletes are competing?
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is among the headline British athletes already guaranteed a place in Budapest.
Josh Kerr will also compete after receiving an exceptional invitation for the men's 1500m, while Great Britain's mixed 4x400m relay team qualified by finishing on the podium at the World Athletics Relays.
Team GB also earnt a spot in the mixed 4x100m after an exceptional gold-medal performance at the European Championships.
Amy Hunt, who enjoyed a four-goal medal haul at the European Championships last month has qualified for the 100m and 200m, while 21-year-old Success Eduan has also qualified for the 200m through world rankings.
European 100m champion Romell Glave, Yemi Mary John, Georgia Hunter Bell, Hannah Nuttall, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Max Burgin, Ben Pattison and Jake Wightman have all secured spots in the competition through world rankings.
When is the World Athletics Ultimate Championship?
The competition takes place from Friday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 13 at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest.
The venue, which hosted the 2023 World Athletics Championships, will have a capacity of around 14,000 for the event.
All three days consist of a single evening session, lasting approximately three hours.
What is the schedule?
Friday, Sept. 11 -- 6-9 p.m. BST
The opening night includes the mixed 4x100m relay, men's 5,000m and the women's 100m hurdles and men's 110m hurdles finals, as well as the women's high jump, men's hammer, men's pole vault and women's long jump.
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- 5-8 p.m. BST
The men's and women's 100m titles are decided on the second night, alongside the women's 800m and 1,500m finals. The women's javelin and pole vault and men's long jump are also among the field events.
Sunday, Sept. 13 -- 5-8 p.m. BST
The championship concludes with the men's and women's 200m finals, men's 800m and 1,500m, women's 5,000m and the mixed 4x400m relay, among the final night's events.
How to watch the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in the UK
The BBC has the UK broadcast rights for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship and will show the event live across all three days.