Brisbane dates confirmed for inaugural aligned 2026 National Junior Athletics Championships

Australian Athletics (AA), and Little Athletics Australia (LAA), are pleased to announce dates and details for the inaugural aligned athletics championships in Brisbane in 2026. Reflecting closer working relationships between the two bodies, the Australian Athletics Junior Championships (AAJC) which forms part of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series will be conducted side-by-side with the Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships (ALAC).

As previously announced, both events will be conducted in Brisbane at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC). Key dates for the championships in 2026 are:

• April 12 – 14: Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships; and
• April 15 – 20: Australian Athletics Junior Championships – part of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series.

Across both events athletes from around Australia will compete as part of a celebration of the sport and its growing success as we head towards a 2032 home games. The championships will showcase the depth and potential of the nation’s next generation with thousands of school-aged athletes through to Under-20s taking part. For many young competitors, this celebration of athletics will also mark the first step on their path to future global events.

“Brisbane gives our juniors and Under-20 athletes the chance to be inspired by a future Olympic and Paralympic city,” Australian Athletics CEO Simon Hollingsworth said.

“These championships represent the emerging talent in our sport, and we’re thrilled to give this event the separate spotlight that it deserves.”

The championships will also serve as a stepping stone in the lead-up to the 2026 World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Eugene, USA, providing a crucial selection and preparation opportunity for Australia’s brightest young talent.

Little Athletics Australia CEO Myles Foreman noted the excitement for the aligned event as a pathway for our future champions, “More than seventy former Little Athletics participants were on the Australian World Championship team in Tokyo. ALAC is a fantastic teams-based championship that engenders a love for the sport and builds a pathway for kids to continue in athletics, including all the way through to representing Australia.”

The Australian Junior Athletics Championships is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Major Events Program and Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency.

The draft timetable for both events will be available closer to the Championships, noting that Under 14 events will be held towards the start of the Australian Junior Athletics Championships to enable athletes who wish to compete in both championships to minimise travel costs.

As part of the alignment AA and LAA have agreed to a number of changes in 2026 to the two events. In summary:

• The youngest age group at AAJC will be Under 14 (athletes born in 2013, or for PV and HT only, 2014). AAJC will not include an Under 13s competition (athletes born in 2014 or later).
• The age groups competing at the ALAC will be Under 12 – Athletes born in 2014 and Under 13 – Athletes born in 2013 (LAA age group definition) and will not include any age groups for athletes born before 2013.
• Eligibility for both championships will be open to the whole of sport.
• ALAC will have increased team numbers to provide more opportunities for national championships for athletes across the whole of sport.
• Little Athletics athletes who achieve the requisite AA entry standards will be eligible to compete in the AAJC.
• ALAC Entries will be managed/facilitated through LAA Member Associations.
• AAJC Entries will be managed/facilitated through AA State Member Associations.

Further information regarding the championships can be found HERE.

Further information regarding Australian Athletics Junior Championships entry standards can be found HERE.

AA and LAA note that this will be the first aligned championships reflecting greater collaboration. Both organisations are committed to undertaking a comprehensive review after the aligned championships to seek feedback from the athletics community to inform and improve future championships.

Dates and location for the 2026 Australian Open Athletics Championships will be announced soon, with a focus on optimising the event in a Commonwealth Games year which features both able and Para athletes.