Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The 2026 World Athletics Awards, set for 29 November in Monaco, will introduce a new voting system focusing on the World Athlete of the Year honors. Instead of separate awards for track, field, and out-of-stadium events, ten athletes will be nominated in both men's and women's categories by an eight-member panel of statisticians. The panel features two members from World Athletics and one from each of the six area associations. Four voting groups, each contributing 25%, will determine the three finalists and the winner. The groups include World Athletics+ subscribers, athletes who competed in World Athletics Series events during 2026, accredited media members, and the World Athletics Family, which consists of officials, athletes, and partners.
Other awards to be presented include the men's and women's Rising Star honors, Coach of the Year, the President's Award, and the newly introduced Moment of the Year award. This award will be voted for exclusively by fans via World Athletics social media channels and aims to highlight the most memorable moment of the season, which may go beyond a single performance to inspire fans worldwide.