There may not be an Olympic Games coming up this year but there is more than enough top athletics action to look forward to in 2025. The sport always attracts more attention when there is a Summer Games, as there was last year in Paris, but true athletics fans know that the excitement never stops.
Athletics continues to be popular with passionate fans and those who are just attracted by the major events. In one way, it is those more casual fans who are more important in growing the sport. Boosting awareness of events in non-Olympics years can help with increased media attention and interest from the top betting sites like Everygame Sports.
Committed fans will be eagerly awaiting the new athletics season and, as we head into February, the action will really begin to heat up. There are interesting meetings, at all levels, taking place all the time. But here are some of the major events that we are looking forward to in 2025.
European Indoor Championship, Apeldoorn
There are plenty of meetings and even national championships held in the opening months of the year but the first really big event is the European Indoor Championships. Held every two years since the early 1990s, the latest championships will take place in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands between March 6 and 9.
There will be 13 disciplines in both the men’s and women’s classifications and, with a very fast track, there is an expectation that records will tumble. The men’s 60m sprint will be especially anticipated, as will be the women’s 400m. Field events, such as the high jump and pole vault are always popular at these events and the European Indoors kick off an exhilarating month of athletics.
World Athletics Indoor Championships, Nanjing
Very soon after the European Indoors have finished in early March, all attention will shift to China as the best on the planet convene to compete at the World Athletic Indoor Championships in Nanjing. We’ve been spoiled in the last few years, with a championship every year to even up the schedule since the pandemic lockdowns – and that means there will be another one next year too!
Records were broken in Glasgow last year and there will be plenty of athletes looking to emulate the performances of Femke Bol and Devynne Charlton this time around. The event takes place from March 21 to 23, giving the European competitors, in particular, little time to prepare themselves for one of the highlights of any athletics year.
Diamond League
Once the World Athletics Indoors finish it will signal the start of the 2025 Diamond League season. This is always a big favorite with the fans and an opportunity for them to watch their heroes in action in their home cities across the world. The first event of the year will be in Xiamen, China on April 26, with the final meeting in Zurich, Switzerland on August 27 and 28.
With so many major international events happening this year, the athletes will be using these Diamond League meetings to fine-tune their performances ahead of medal-winning opportunities. Most anticipated will be the return of Karsten Warholm in the 400m hurdles. The Norwegian is one of the biggest stars in the sport and will be aiming to claim a slice of the increased prize money on offer.
World Athletics Relays, Guangzhou
Some of the most exciting – and dramatic – events at major events like the Olympics are the relay races. The IAAF realized this and launched a standalone event in 2017 featuring a number of races, including some that are not usually part of the standard program at the Summer Games.
After the excitement of Nassau last year, China takes center stage once again, with the Guangdong Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou hosting the festivities. The action takes place over the weekend of May 10-11 and will feature qualification events for the World Championships in Tokyo later in the year. There will also be a debut for a mixed 4x100m race which is sure to attract the crowds.
World Athletics Championships, Tokyo
Although all of the events we have already mentioned will be important and exciting in their own right, much of the athletics calendar in 2025 will be building up to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. The meeting takes place over nine days from September 13 to 21.
This will be the 20th edition of the event – and the third time that Japan has had the privilege of hosting. An electric atmosphere is expected as fans get to see the elite battle it out for the coveted medals. The US has traditionally dominated, with Noah Lyles beating all comers in the sprints at the last few meetings. Kenya enjoyed success in the women’s distance events in Budapest in 2023 though, and many of the disciplines boast a very open competition. With no Olympics until 2028, the Worlds will hold the attention of the sport for many.
Athletics All Year Round
The World Championships in Tokyo might attract many new fans this year but, as you can see, there are plenty of other major events happening in the sport in 2025. In fact, those profiled here are just the tip of the iceberg, as meetings are held across the world every month this year.
Keep an eye on the site for all the latest news – and details of where to watch the action – as we all look forward to another captivating year of elite athletics.