At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, India achieved its most successful performance in history, securing a total of 27 medals (6 Gold, 9 Silver, and 12 Bronze). Sumit Antil defended his title with a stunning Paralympic record, while Praveen Kumar soared to gold in the high jump. Now, both return to compete on home soil.
The World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 lands in New Delhi from March 8 to March 13, 2026, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Over 250 athletes from eight participating nations, including India, Russia (competing as Neutral Para Athletes), Nepal, Bhutan, Hong Kong China, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Egypt, are set to compete. India sends its largest-ever squad of approximately 219 athletes.
World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026: Full Event Schedule
The New Delhi leg of the 2026 Grand Prix runs from March 8 to March 13, with the first three days set aside for athlete classification and the final three days reserved for competition.
Here is the complete day-by-day programme for the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in New Delhi, from arrival day to the last competition session.
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, March 8, 2026 | Day 1 | Arrivals and Classification Day |
| Monday, March 9, 2026 | Day 2 | Classification Day |
| Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | Day 3 | Classification Day |
| Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | Day 4 | Competition Day (Main Event) |
| Thursday, March 12, 2026 | Day 5 | Competition Day (Main Event) |
| Friday, March 13, 2026 | Day 6 | Competition Day (Main Event) |
| Saturday, March 14, 2026 | Day 7 | NPC/NF Delegation Departures |
Competition runs across three full days from March 11 to March 13, giving every athlete the maximum number of sessions to compete and set personal bests on the MONDO track at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
The entire event takes place at one of India’s most iconic sporting venues. The stadium features India’s first MONDO high-performance synthetic track, the same surface used for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships held here just five months ago.
Here is a closer look at the competition setup and support facilities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the 2026 Grand Prix.
Main Competition Venue: A 400m, 9-lane MONDO track (10 lanes on the straight), with 8 long jump pits and 4 throwing circles.
Training and Warm-Up Venue: A separate 400m track with 8 lanes, 4 long jump pits, and 8 throwing circles.
Other Facilities
- Gymnasium: Available for strength training and pre-competition warm-up
- Physiotherapy Zones: Dedicated recovery areas with professional staff on-site
- Hydration Points: Free water and refreshments at designated spots across the venue
Host City: New Delhi
- Weather in March: Mild spring weather with clear skies, ideal for outdoor competition
- Heritage Sites: Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar Complex, and Red Fort Complex
- Landmarks: India Gate, Lotus Temple, and Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Green Spaces: Lodhi Gardens, Nehru Park, and Sunder Nursery nearby
2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix: Full Calendar
The New Delhi event is one stop on a nine-event Grand Prix season that spans four continents from February to September 2026. Each stop gives para athletes valuable points, ranking data, and classification opportunities ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
The table below covers all nine stops on the 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix calendar, so you can follow the full series from start to finish.
| Stop | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubai, UAE (Fazza International) | Feb 6–9 (Classification), Feb 10–13 (Competition) |
| 2 | New Delhi, India | Mar 8–10 (Classification), Mar 11–13 (Competition) |
| 3 | Rabat, Morocco | Apr 20–22 (Classification), Apr 23–25 (Competition) |
| 4 | Jalisco, México | May 4–7 (Classification), May 8–11 (Competition) |
| 5 | Nottwil, Switzerland | May 21–23 |
| 6 | Paris, France | June 2–4 |
| 7 | Tunis, Tunisia | June 16–19 |
| 8 | Olomouc, Czechia (Women’s GP) | June 29–July 1 (Classification), July 2–4 (Competition) |
| 9 | Cali, Colombia | September 17–20 |
Following New Delhi, the series moves to Rabat, Morocco in April, with the entry deadline set for February 24 for teams wanting to register for the next leg.
Key Indian Athletes to Watch
India sends its biggest-ever para athletics squad to this event, with 219 athletes carrying the expectations of a nation that won 29 medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Several of these athletes are world record holders and Paralympic champions competing on home ground.
Here are the key Indian athletes to follow during the New Delhi Grand Prix.
| Athlete | Event | Class | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumit Antil | Men’s Javelin Throw | F64 | Reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder |
| Mariyappan Thangavelu | Men’s High Jump | T63 | Paralympic gold medallist, one of India’s most recognised para athletes |
| Praveen Kumar | Men’s High Jump | T64 | Paralympic gold medallist at Paris 2024, in strong form this season |
| Preeti Pal | Women’s 100m | T35 | Double bronze at Paris 2024; Gold in 100m at Dubai 2026 GP |
| Simran Sharma | Women’s 200m | T12 | 2025 World Champion and Paralympic bronze medallist |
| Navdeep | Men’s Javelin Throw | F41 | Paralympic champion, key part of India’s strong throwing group |
India’s throwing and sprinting squads are especially deep this year, and home conditions at JN Stadium are expected to bring out their best performances.
International Athletes to Watch
The competition in New Delhi also features around 257 athletes from eight nations, including some of the biggest names in para athletics from across the world. These athletes will push India’s stars to their limits across all three competition days.
Here is a look at the top international names set to compete at the New Delhi Grand Prix 2026.
| Athlete | Country | Event | Class | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxime Carabin | Belgium | 100m / 400m | T52 | Five-time world champion, Paris 2024 champion |
| Austin Smeenk | Canada | Men’s 800m | T34 | Paralympic gold medallist, one of the top wheelchair racers in the world |
| David Dzhatiev | Neutral | 100m / 200m | T35 | Two-time world champion, proven winner at major events |
| Elena Pautova | Neutral | Women’s 1500m | T13 | Two-time Paralympic gold medallist |
These four athletes alone represent some of the strongest competition India’s squad will face across the three days of racing and field events.
How to Watch World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 New Delhi
You do not need to be inside the JN Stadium to follow all the action from New Delhi. There is one main option available for fans watching from home.
Live streaming of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026, New Delhi, will be available on the Paralympic Committee of India’s official YouTube channel. There will be no live telecast of this event on any TV channel in India, so the YouTube stream is the only way to watch live if you are not attending in person.
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Conclusion: New Delhi Gets Its Grand Prix Moment
The World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in New Delhi runs from March 8 to March 13 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. India fields 219 athletes, its largest-ever para-athletics squad, on home soil.
With world record holders, Paralympic champions, and international stars all competing together, these three competition days promise some of the best para athletics action seen in Asia in years. The crowd will show up. The athletes are ready.
