The Indian Athletics Series 1 is the first meet in AFI‘s new 16-leg Indian Athletics Series (IAS), scheduled for April 4, 2026, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is a one-day competition with lower entry standards than those of national meets, designed to bring more athletes into competitive track and field.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) introduced the series as part of its biggest-ever domestic calendar. For 2026, AFI has expanded its competition count from 32 to 40 events, with the IAS at the centre of that expansion
If you are an athlete, coach, or fan trying to understand how this series works, where each meet is held, and why it matters for 2026, this guide covers it all.
What Is the Indian Athletics Series?
The Indian Athletics Series is a 16-meet regional competition circuit introduced by AFI for the 2026 season. It runs from April to September 2026 and is held across multiple states in India.
The series works differently from the older Indian Grand Prix system. Entry standards are deliberately kept lower so that athletes who would not otherwise qualify for national meets can still gain competitive exposure. Junior events are also part of the schedule, giving younger athletes more chances to compete.
AFI Competition Director Ravinder Chaudhry put it simply: the series is meant to give young athletes on the fringes a chance to compete at a higher level with a minimum entry standard.
Think of the IAS as a bridge. It connects state-level athletes to the national circuit without throwing them straight into the deep end of the Federation Cup or the Inter-State Championships.
Indian Athletics Series 1: Date, Venue, and Format
Here are the confirmed details for Indian Athletics Series 1:
- Date: April 4, 2026
- Venue: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Format: One-day competition
- Organiser: Athletics Federation of India (AFI)
- Entry Standard: Lower than national championships (relaxed eligibility)
- Age Categories: Senior and Junior
Bengaluru is a fitting choice for the first meet. It hosts the Anju Bobby George Foundation track, which is also the venue for the series’ final leg in September. The city is one of India’s more active athletics hubs, and starting there gives the series a strong foundation.
Full Indian Athletics Series 2026 Schedule
The full 16-leg schedule, as announced by AFI, is as follows. The series concludes with an invitation-only final in New Delhi on September 12, 2026.
| Meet | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 4, 2026 | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| 2 | April 5, 2026 | Udaipur, Rajasthan |
| 3 | April 11, 2026 | Sangrur, Punjab |
| 4 | April 12, 2026 | Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| 5 | May 9, 2026 | TBD |
| 6–15 | May–August 2026 | Multiple states (Chennai, Pune, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Ludhiana, Kolkata & more) |
| 16 | September 5, 2026 | Anju Bobby George Foundation, Bengaluru |
| Final | September 12, 2026 | New Delhi (By Invitation) |
How Does the Indian Athletics Series Differ from the Indian Grand Prix?
Before 2026, AFI relied on the Indian Grand Prix (IGP) series as its primary domestic competition circuit. The IAS replaces that system with a broader, more accessible format.
Key differences:
- Scale: The Indian Grand Prix had 3 meets in 2025. The Indian Athletics Series has 16 meets in 2026.
- Entry standards: The IAS uses lower entry marks, making it accessible to more athletes across the country.
- Geography: The IAS is spread across multiple states, from Karnataka to Punjab to Jharkhand. The old GP meetings were concentrated in fewer cities.
- Junior inclusion: The IAS includes junior events in its schedule, which was not a standard feature of the Grand Prix.
- Grassroots focus: The IAS is explicitly designed for athletes on the fringes of the national circuit, not just established performers.
Who Can Participate in the Indian Athletics Series?
The Indian Athletics Series is open to senior and junior athletes affiliated with AFI state units. The relaxed entry standards mean that athletes who are not yet at the national level can compete.
Eligibility highlights:
- Athletes must be registered with AFI through their respective state athletics associations.
- Entry qualification standards are lower than those required for national championships.
- Both senior and junior athletes can participate.
- The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) made State Championship participation mandatory for all athletes in 2026
Importantly, competing in the Indian Athletics Series counts toward AFI’s new mandatory participation rules for senior national championships. This makes the series directly relevant to any athlete aiming for the Federation Cup or Inter-State Championships.
Mandatory Participation Rules: Why the IAS Matters for Qualifying
AFI introduced a new rule in 2026: athletes must complete a minimum number of competitions to be eligible for senior national championships. The Indian Athletics Series is one of the key avenues to meet that requirement.
| Competition | Min. AFI Events Required | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Championships (May) | 2 AFI events | newkerala.com |
| 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships (July) | 3 AFI events (incl. State Championships) | newkerala.com |
| Asian Games 2026 / CWG 2026 Squads | 3 domestic competitions (with flexibility for elite athletes) | olympics.com |
In short, if an athlete wants to run at the Federation Cup in Ranchi in May, they need at least two prior AFI competitions. If they want the Inter-State Championships in July, they need three. The IAS provides exactly those opportunities.
For the Asian Games 2026 and Commonwealth Games 2026 selection, athletes must also show a minimum of three domestic competition appearances. AFI has, however, granted exemptions to elite athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Avinash Sable in the past when their international track record justified it.
Why AFI Launched the Indian Athletics Series in 2026
The Indian Athletics Series was not a random addition. AFI had a clear reason: the old competition structure left too many athletes with too few meets.
India has 32 affiliated state units under AFI. Many athletes from smaller states or with developing abilities had no meaningful competition platform beyond state meets. The IAS fills that gap directly by bringing national-level competition to cities like Udaipur, Sangrur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram, which rarely hosted AFI meets in previous years.
AFI’s 2026 calendar also has a larger goal: preparing athletes for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (September 19 to October 4), and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland (July 23 to August 2). With 16 IAS meets spread across six months, athletes have consistent competitive exposure without the pressure of major championship standards.
The expansion from 32 to 40 total domestic events represents a 25% increase in competition volume. More meets means more data, more timing results, and more chances for athletes to hit qualification marks.
The Bigger Picture: Indian Athletics in 2026
The Indian Athletics Series sits inside a 2026 calendar that is, by any measure, the most ambitious AFI has ever assembled. Here is the broader context:
First National Indoor Athletics Championships
On March 24-25, India held its first-ever National Indoor Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Indoor Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The World Athletics Council also set this city to host the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2028.
World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Level Meet
Bhubaneswar will host India’s first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Level meet in August 2026. This event upgrades the Bronze Level status held in 2025. Silver status means more world ranking points and a stronger international field.
Key Athletes to Watch in 2026
Indian athletics enters 2026 with real momentum. A few names to track:
Neeraj Chopra: The two-time Olympic medallist threw 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League in 2025, becoming the first Indian to cross 90 metres. He enters 2026 as India’s top medal hope at both CWG and the Asian Games.
Animesh Kujur: The national record holder in the 100m (10.18s) and 200m (20.32s). He became the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the World Championships in the 200m.
Gulveer Singh: The first Indian to run sub-13 minutes in the 5000m. He also holds the national record in the 10,000m.
Jyothi Yarraji: The 100m hurdles national record holder (12.78s), returning from an ACL injury in 2026. She needs to reach 12.67s to meet the CWG 2026 qualification standard.
How to Register and Stay Updated
Athletes and coaches can follow all official announcements, circulars, schedules, and results on the AFI’s official website:
- Official Website:indianathletics.in
- Circular for Indian Athletics Series 1:indianathletics.in/circular_category/circular-2026
- Athlete Login: Available through the ORS portal on indianathletics.in
- Affiliated state athletics associations register participants for State Units.
AFI has also made digital result submission mandatory for all 2026 competitions, so timing data and results from the Indian Athletics Series 1 should be available online shortly after the meet
Also Read:
The Indian Athletics Series 1 will start on April 4, 2026!
The Indian Athletics Series 1 on April 4, 2026, in Bengaluru is more than just a one-day meet. It is the starting point of a series that could change how grassroots athletes in India get access to competitive track and field.
With 16 meets across the country, lower entry barriers, and a direct link to national championship eligibility, the Indian Athletics Series gives athletes a genuine pathway from their home state to the national stage. For anyone serious about Indian athletics in 2026, following the IAS is a good place to start.
For the latest schedules and results, visit indianathletics.in.
