Three pieces of good news were announced by Athletissima during Swiss Athletics Media Day in Bern: around 2,000 tickets for Athletissima 2026 were still available as of May 7, the meeting will play a key role for Switzerland’s women’s 4x100m relay team, and the final design for the new Vidy stadium is set to be unveiled by the end of May.
For its 51st edition on August 21, Athletissima aims to fully embrace what its CEO described as “the golden era of Swiss athletics.” More than ever, the country’s top athletes will be in attendance, including the meeting’s six headline stars, who are also part of Swiss Athletics’ “Next Level” project designed to better support potential medal contenders for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles: Audrey Werro, Mujinga Kambundji, Ditaji Kambundji, Angelica Moser, Simon Ehammer and Jason Joseph.
Alongside them, the women’s 4x100m relay, which will close the meeting, will give the Swiss quartet a chance to secure qualification for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing after missing out by just three thousandths of a second at the World Relays earlier this month in Botswana. The race will be specifically tailored to maximize their chances.
The international field is also expected to be exceptionally strong. With no major global championships such as the World Championships or the Olympics on the calendar, top athletes, especially those from outside Europe, are likely to place even greater emphasis on the Diamond League meetings.
More than 10,000 tickets have already been sold, though seats are still available for fans.
This 51st edition will also feature a brand-new track installed this spring, expanded entertainment around the City Event, and a “Track Festival” expected to attract between 3,000 and 4,000 young participants from August 15–20 in Ouchy.
The new Vidy stadium project is entering its final stretch: a special committee now has to choose between two equivalent 12,000-seat proposals. A decision is expected within the next few weeks, before a final vote by the Lausanne City Council later this summer.
