Penn Relays 2026: Schedule, Tickets & Live Stream

Penn Relays 2026: The World’s Most Recognized Track Meet Returns

The Penn Relay Carnival returns to Philadelphia for its 130th edition this week. Over three packed days, tens of thousands of spectators will fill historic Franklin Field. Athletes from middle school to masters level will compete for glory. This is one of the most storied events in all of American athletics.

The University of Pennsylvania has hosted this meet every year since 1895. It stands as the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States. Organizers expect upwards of 15,000 athletes and 110,000 spectators across all three days. West Philadelphia will transform into a global stage once again.

A History That Spans Generations

The Penn Relays first took place on April 20, 1895, at Franklin Field. That inaugural meet established the very first college relay carnival in history. The event has since endured two world wars and multiple global financial crises. It has spanned nearly two dozen presidential terms, from Grover Cleveland to Donald Trump.

Penn itself holds a proud place in the meet’s record books. The Quakers have claimed 57 men’s Championship of America titles between 1896 and 2016. That total places Penn second all-time in that prestigious category. Few programs can match that level of sustained excellence at a single event.

The 130th edition carries the full weight of that remarkable legacy. More than a century of competition has built something truly irreplaceable in American sport. Athletes and fans return year after year to be part of that history. The 2026 edition promises to honour every chapter of that story.

Scale and Scope of the 2026 Meet

This year’s competition features a staggering 314 events across three days. Athletes will compete in relay races, individual track events, and field disciplines. The field of competitors spans from elementary school students to runners older than 70. Few sporting events in the world can claim such diversity of participation.

Penn’s own Quakers will send 74 athletes to compete at this year’s meet. College teams from all three NCAA divisions will take part in the action. NAIA programs and junior colleges also feature among the college entries. Major conferences represented include the Big Ten, the Atlantic Coast, and the Ivy League.

High school participation adds another extraordinary layer to the meet. More than a thousand high school programs from across the country are expected to compete. Special Olympics athletes also join the competition, reflecting the meet’s inclusive spirit. The 2026 field is as deep and diverse as any in the event’s long history.

Franklin Field: A Venue Like No Other

The Penn Relays call Franklin Field home, and that venue is iconic in its own right. The stadium holds 52,593 seats and sits on Penn’s campus in West Philadelphia. It carries the distinction of being the oldest college football stadium in the entire country. No other venue could provide a more fitting backdrop for this historic meet.

Spectators attending the event should familiarise themselves with the stadium’s bag policy. Re-entry is not permitted at Franklin Field during the Penn Relays. Bags must measure smaller than 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches to gain entry. Sealed plastic water bottles, blankets, and binoculars are all permitted inside.

Several items are strictly prohibited inside the stadium. These include umbrellas, coolers, glass bottles, cans, and firearms. Strollers, stainless steel water bottles, and noisemakers over one foot in length are also banned. Officials will subject all permitted items to a security search upon entry.

2026 Schedule: Three Days of Competition

The 130th Penn Relays run from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25, 2026. On Thursday and Friday, events begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Saturday’s programme starts earlier, with competition getting underway at 7 a.m. The meet concludes on Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

Thursday kicks off with several high-profile college championship events in the evening. The College Women’s 400m Hurdles Championship goes off at 5:30 p.m. The College Men’s 400m Hurdles Championship follows at 5:50 p.m. Later Thursday evening features the women’s and men’s 10,000m championships.

High school athletes take centre stage early in the meet’s programme. The first running events feature high school girls 4×800 heats on Thursday morning. High school boys 4×800 heats begin on Friday morning. Field events open with a series of high school girls championships, including discus, shot put, and long jump.

Saturday’s America250 Day Finale

Saturday carries a special designation as America250 Day at the 2026 Penn Relays. The day opens with several 5K racewalks before the big championship events begin. College track and field championships headline the afternoon programme on the final day. It promises to be a fitting close to a landmark edition of the meet.

The full three-day schedule also includes the College Women’s and Men’s 1500m Championships on Thursday. The 3000m Steeplechase and 5000m Championships also take place on the opening evening. Each session runs from morning through to late evening on the first two days. Fans attending in person will find no shortage of world-class action.

How to Watch and Stream the 2026 Penn Relays

Television broadcasters will not carry the 2026 Penn Relays this year. Fans wishing to follow the action must stream the meet through FloTrack. The streaming platform will carry coverage throughout all three days of competition. Coverage runs from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time across the weekend.

Live competition takes place daily at Franklin Field on Penn’s Philadelphia campus. Thursday and Friday sessions run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Saturday’s session concludes at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Fans attending in person can expect a vibrant, electric atmosphere throughout the entire weekend.

The 130th Penn Relays represent a celebration of everything great about track and field. Over 100 years of competition have cemented this meet’s place in sporting history. From elementary school athletes to seasoned masters competitors, the event welcomes all. Philadelphia will once again prove why it hosts the world’s most recognised relay carnival.