Three years running. Sold out every time. The Novuna London Athletics Meet is back at London Stadium on Saturday 18 July 2026, and if you have been watching the Diamond League circuit and wondering when the world’s best come to east London – the answer is in a few weeks.
This is the biggest one-day athletics event of the year. A single afternoon of world-class track and field. And it all happens right here in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
What is the Novuna London Athletics Meet?
The Novuna London Athletics Meet is part of the Wanda Diamond League – the premier international athletics circuit that brings together the world’s top athletes across 14 cities each year. London is one of them. And London Stadium – our 62,500-seat home inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – is where it all goes down.
From sprints to pole vault, long jump to 1500m – the Diamond League format throws everything together in a single afternoon designed to be spectacular. No waiting around. No padding. Just elite athletes at the absolute peak of their powers, competing for Diamond League points in front of a sold-out crowd.
Speaking of which: this has sold out three years in a row. If you are thinking about going, now is the time to get tickets – not in a fortnight.
The Diamond League and why it matters
The Wanda Diamond League is the biggest series in global athletics outside the Olympics and World Championships. The athletes who compete here are the same ones who stand on podiums at major championships. The London meet has become one of the most anticipated stops on the circuit – partly because of the stadium, partly because London crowds are brilliant, and partly because the performances here tend to be something special.
With the European Athletics Championships coming to Birmingham in 2026, there is an extra edge to this summer’s competition. Athletes will be peaking, testing themselves, making statements. A Diamond League meet in July is exactly the kind of high-pressure environment that produces record-breaking performances.
Tickets: Novuna London Athletics Meet
Tickets are available now. Prices start at £5 for under-16s and £26 for adults in Category E, rising to £115 for Category A and £179 for premium Ticket+ packages. Family and concession pricing is also available. Given this has sold out three years running, earlier is better.
The event runs 13:00 to 16:00 – a tight, brilliant three hours. Book through Ticketmaster or at britishathletics.org.uk.
Games that feel like competition
Here’s the thing about watching elite athletics: there is a strategy to it that people do not always notice. Pacing a middle-distance race. The psychological game in a sprint final. When to push, when to hold. It is not just physical – it is deeply tactical.
Which is exactly what makes certain board games hit differently after an afternoon at the stadium. Skull is one of our favourites – pure bluff and nerve, knowing when to push your luck and when to hold back. Two minutes to learn, impossible to master, and brilliant with a group who have just watched the world’s best make it look easy when it really, really is not.
Come to Draughts before or after
The event runs 13:00 to 16:00. Either side of that, you are in one of the best parts of London with time to fill.
We are at 5 Aquatics Walk – inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a short walk from London Stadium. Come for a proper lunch before the action starts, or come after and wind down over some games and good food. We have got over 1,000 games, a full bar and a kitchen. It is the obvious move before or after a stadium event.
On athletics day, having a table pre-booked is genuinely worth doing. Book at draughtslondon.com.
Practical tips
- Tickets are selling fast and this has sold out three years running. Book now at ticketmaster.co.uk – do not leave it.
- The event runs 13:00-16:00. Arrive at Draughts for 11:30-12:00 for a proper pre-event lunch, or come straight after from 16:30 onwards.
- Stratford station is your best bet – Elizabeth line, Central line, London Overground and National Rail all stop there. The stadium is a 10-15 minute walk from the main exit through the park.
- There is no general public parking at London Stadium. Westfield Stratford City has parking nearby if you are driving, but public transport is much easier on event days.
- Category E and D tickets are brilliant value for first-timers. The sightlines at London Stadium are excellent from every tier – you will not miss a thing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Novuna London Athletics Meet
What is the Novuna London Athletics Meet?
The Novuna London Athletics Meet is the biggest one-day athletics event in the UK. Part of the Wanda Diamond League series, it takes place at London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and features the world’s best track and field athletes competing across multiple disciplines in a single afternoon.
When is the Novuna London Athletics Meet 2026?
Saturday 18 July 2026. The event runs from 13:00 to 16:00.
Where is the Novuna London Athletics Meet held?
At London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London. London Stadium has a capacity of 62,500 for sporting events.
What is the Wanda Diamond League?
The Wanda Diamond League is the premier international athletics circuit, featuring events in 14 cities across the globe each year. London is one of the host cities. Athletes compete for Diamond League points across the season, with top performers qualifying for the Diamond League Final. It is the biggest athletics series in the world outside the Olympics and World Championships.
Has the Novuna London Athletics Meet sold out before?
Yes – the event has sold out three years in a row. Tickets are still available for 2026 but they will not last. Book early via Ticketmaster or at britishathletics.org.uk.
How much do tickets cost for the 2026 athletics?
Tickets start at £5 for under-16s and £26 for adults (Category E). Category A seats cost £115 for adults, with premium Ticket+ packages at £179. Family tickets and concession pricing are also available.
What events are included in the athletics programme?
The Novuna London Athletics Meet features a range of track and field disciplines including sprints, middle distance, hurdles, jumps and throws. The full schedule is available at britishathletics.org.uk closer to the event.
How do I get to London Stadium for the athletics?
Stratford station is the main recommended route, served by the Elizabeth line, Central line, London Overground and National Rail. From Stratford, London Stadium is a 10-15 minute walk through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Is there parking at London Stadium?
There is no general public parking at London Stadium itself. Westfield Stratford City has parking nearby. Public transport is strongly recommended for all stadium events.
Is the athletics suitable for children?
Absolutely. Children’s tickets start at just £5, making it one of the most accessible elite sports events in London. It is a brilliant way to introduce young people to athletics, especially with the European Championships coming to Birmingham later in the summer.
Where can I eat near London Stadium on athletics day?
Draughts is right here in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – just a short walk from London Stadium at 5 Aquatics Walk, E20 2AS. We are a bar, restaurant and board game cafe with over 1,000 games. Perfect before the event (come from 11:30 for lunch) or after (from 16:30 onwards). Book a table in advance at draughtslondon.com – athletics day gets busy.
What other events are at London Stadium this summer?
London Stadium has a packed summer. West Ham United play there throughout the season, and the park is home to the Music is Black Festival weekends – including Power & Respect on 11-12 July, just a week before the athletics. A brilliant summer to be based in east London.
