Kenya’s Young Stars Poised to Shine as 2026 Diamond League Roars to Life

The countdown to the 2026 Diamond League is officially on and anticipation is already soaring. Set to begin on May 8 in Doha, Qatar, this global athletics spectacle will bring together the world’s finest track and field athletes across 14 international cities, culminating in the final showdown in Brussels on September 4 – 5.

Fresh from a record-breaking 2025 season, the new campaign promises even fiercer rivalries, higher stakes and more unforgettable moments. After the curtain-raiser in Doha, the action shifts to Shanghai and Xiamen in China, followed by Rabat, Morocco, marking Africa’s leg of the series. The Diamond League will then sweep across Europe with meets in Stockholm, Oslo, and Paris before crossing the Atlantic to Eugene, USA, a track known for producing multiple world records in recent years.

From there, the road to Brussels runs through Monaco, London, Lausanne, Silesia, and Zurich, setting the stage for a dramatic grand finale that will determine the sport’s elite champions.

For Kenya, the new season carries a wave of excitement and expectation. Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the Olympic and world 800m champion, heads into 2026 as the man to beat. The 21-year-old finished last season in spectacular fashion, clinching the Diamond Trophy in Zurich with a time of 1:42.37, ahead of Britain’s Max Burgin and Canada’s Marco Arop.

In the women’s steeplechase, Faith Cherotich continues to prove her dominance. The reigning world and Diamond League champion stormed to victory in 8:57.24, extending her remarkable run of form. Meanwhile, Nelly Chepchirchir turned heads with a powerful late surge in Zurich to win her maiden Diamond Trophy in 3:56.99, signaling the rise of another Kenyan star.

The spotlight also falls on teen prodigy Edmund Serem, younger brother to Olympian Amos Serem, who captured silver in Zurich and bronze at the Tokyo World Championships –  a glimpse of Kenya’s future in the steeplechase.

The 2026 Diamond League season will build momentum toward the first-ever World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, slated for September 11 – 13, promising to cap off what could be one of the most electrifying athletics years in recent memory.