CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois track and field team released their schedule for the 2026 season, director of track, field, and cross country Petros Kyprianou announced on Wednesday (Sept. 17). The Illini will host six meets in 2026, three during the indoor season and three during the outdoor season.
The 2026 indoor season will begin on Jan. 9-10 at the UI Armory for the Illini Open before heading to Indianapolis for the Hoosier Horsepower Classic the following weekend (Jan. 16-17). The Illini will then return to the UI Armory for the Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Events on Jan. 22-24 before a road trip to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Razorback Invitational on Jan. 30-31.
The road trips continue with the distance crew heading to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 13-14, and the rest of the team will head back to Fayetteville for the Tyson Invitational on the same dates.
The road trip concludes as the Illini come back home for the Illini Last Chance meet on Feb. 20 before heading to South Bend, Ind. for the final meet of the indoor regular season on Feb. 21, the Alex Wilson Invitational.
The Big Ten Indoor Championship is back in Indianapolis at the Fall Creek Pavilion this year from Feb. 27-28. The NCAA Indoor Championships are in Fayetteville from March 13-14. The Illini have familiarity with both, benefiting them for both championships.
The 2025 outdoor season kicks off March 19-20 with the River City Relays in Jacksonville, Fla. The Illini find themselves back down in Florida a couple weeks later for the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Apr. 3-4, before coming back home for their first outdoor meet of the season on Apr. 9-11 with the Illini Deca-Jam at the Demirjian Park in Champaign, Ill.
The Orange and Blue distance crew heads back on the road to Winston-Salem, N.C. for the Wake Forest Invitational on Apr. 16-17 and the rest of the team will head back down to Gainesville for the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational on Apr. 17-18.
Wrapping up the outdoor regular season, the Illini come back home for the Gary Wieneke Memorial on May 1-2 and end the season with the Illini Tune-Up on May 8.
The Big Ten Outdoor Championships are May 15-17 in Lincoln, Neb. and the NCAA West Preliminaries are back in Fayetteville from May 27-30. The season comes to an end with the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. on June 10-13.
| 2026 Illinois Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field Schedule |
| Day |
Date |
Meet |
Location |
| Fri.-Sat |
Jan. 9-10 |
Illini Open |
UI Armory |
| Fri.-Sat |
Jan. 16-17 |
Hoosier Horsepower Classic |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Thur.-Sat. |
Jan. 22-24 |
Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Events |
UI Armory |
| Fri.-Sat. |
Jan. 30-31 |
Razorback Invitational |
Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Fri.-Sat. |
Feb. 13-14 |
David Hemery Valentine Invitational |
Boston, Mass. |
| Fri.-Sat. |
Feb. 13-14 |
Tyson Invitational |
Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Fri. |
Feb. 20 |
Illini Last Chance |
UI Armory |
| Sat. |
Feb. 21 |
Alex Wilson Invitational |
South Bend, Ind. |
| Fri.-Sat. |
Feb. 27-28 |
Big Ten Indoor Championships |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
| Fri.-Sat. |
March 13-14 |
NCAA Indoor Championships |
Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Thur.-Fri. |
March 19-20 |
River City Relays |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Fri.-Sat. |
April 3-4 |
Florida Relays |
Gainesville, Fla. |
| Thur.-Sat. |
April 9-11 |
Illini Deca-Jam |
Demirjian Park |
| Thur.-Fri. |
April 16-17 |
Wake Forest Invitational |
Winston-Salem, N.C.. |
| Fri.-Sat. |
April 17-18 |
Tom Jones Memorial Invitational |
Gainesville, Fla. |
| Fri.-Sat. |
May 1-2 |
Gary Wieneke Memorial |
Demirjian Park |
| Fri |
May 8 |
Illini Tune-Up |
Demirjian Park |
| Fri.-Sun. |
May 15-17 |
Big Ten Outdoor Championships |
Lincoln, Neb. |
| Wed.-Sat. |
May 27-37 |
NCAA West Preliminaries |
Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Wed.-Sat. |
June 10-13 |
NCAA Outdoor Championships |
Eugene, Ore. |
