Diamond League raising prize money in select events this season

The Diamond League will increase top-level individual prize money in select athletics events in 2026, expanding the number of ‌disciplines offering enhanced payouts while maintaining the overall prize pool at $9.24 million US.

The new structure, announced on Wednesday, will see each meeting feature eight 'Diamond+' disciplines – ​selected events that offer enhanced prize ​money – increasing the number of events in which athletes can compete for the ​highest payouts.

The number of Diamond+ disciplines will ⁠double from four ⁠to eight at ‌all meetings.

The eight disciplines at each meeting will include two sprint or hurdles events, two long- or middle-distance races, two field events, and ⁠two other disciplines, all equally distributed between male and female athletes.

"This new structure allows athletes from a wider ‌range of disciplines to increase their earnings in 2026, while also guaranteeing gender equality," organizers said in a statement.

Athletes will be able to ​earn up to $20,000 US at Diamond League meetings and up to $60,000 ⁠in the Final, the highest individual rewards in the ⁠series' 17-year history.

The basic level of individual prize ⁠money ⁠will remain unchanged, ​with competitors able to earn up to $10,000 at series meetings ​and up ⁠to $30,000 at the Final.

The 2026 Diamond League season will begin on May 16 in Shanghai/Keqiao and culminate with a two-day Final in Brussels on September 4-5. (Reporting by ⁠Pearl Josephine Nazare ‌in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Christian Radnedge)