The top indoor track and field meets to watch in 2026

The 2026 NCAA indoor track and field season is here, and there is an exciting slate of meets ahead. Here are some meets that you don't want to miss.

Top indoor track and field meets to watch in 2026

Season openers

• Clemson Opener | Dec. 5 | Host: Clemson
• HBCU & Ivy Challenge | Dec. 5 | Host: Harvard
• Sharon Colvear-Danville Season Opener | Dec. 6 | Host: Boston U
• The McFerrin Invitational | Dec. 6 | Host: Texas A&M
• JDL Early Bird Invitational | Dec. 6 | Host: Wake Forest
• Winter Commodore Challenge | Dec. 6 | Host: Vanderbilt
• Husker Holiday Open | Dec. 12 | Host: Nebraska

The indoor track season officially begins the first weekend of December. While we might not see every student-athlete begin their season this week, we'll see plenty make their debut.

Return from the holidays

• Clemson Invitational | Jan. 9-10| Host: Clemson
• Rod McCravy Invitational | Jan. 9-10 | Host: Kentucky
• Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational | Jan. 10 | Host: Houston
• Gamecock Opener | Jan. 10 | Host: South Carolina
• Arkansas Invitational | Jan. 16 | Host: Arkansas
• Corky Classic | Jan. 16-17 | Host: Texas Tech
• UW Indoor Preview | Jan. 16-17 | Host: Washington
• Virginia Tech Invitational | Jan. 16-17 | Host: Virginia Tech

After a holiday break, some of the best indoor track and field facilities in the country host meets. South Carolina's two flagship schools should produce fast times at their meets. Rod McCravy is always exciting, too. In the middle of the month, we'll see Arkansas — the future site of this year's indoor championships — host the Arkansas Invitational.

Mid-season races

• Ted Nelson Invitational | Jan. 23-24 | Host: Texas A&M
• Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge | Jan. 23-24 | Host: Columbia
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational | Jan. 23-24 | Host: New Mexico
• Razorback Invitational | Jan. 30-31 | Host: Arkansas
• New Mexico Team Open | Jan. 30-31| Host: New Mexico
• Bob Pollock Invitational | Jan. 30-31 | Host: Clemson
• John Thomas Terrier Classic | Jan. 30-Feb. 1| Host: Boston U
• DeLoss Doggs Invite | Jan. 30-31 | Host: Kansas State
• 117th Millrose Games | Feb. 1 | The Armory in NYC
• New Mexico Collegiate Classic | Feb. 6-7 | Host: New Mexico
• Charlie Thomas Invitational | Feb. 6-7 | Host: Texas A&M
• Carolina Classic | Feb. 6-7 | South Carolina

By late January, indoor track teams will have long knocked off any rust and will be deep into the regular season. The end of January provides exciting meets in all corners of the country that will showcase sprinters, distance runners and more.

We can't forget about the historic Millrose Games to start February, either. The iconic meet in The Armory is can't miss.

The busiest weekend in indoor track and field

• Tyson Invitational | Feb. 13-14 | Host: Arkansas
• David Henry Valentine Invitational | Feb. 13-14 | Host: Boston U
• Don Kirby Elite Invitational |Feb. 13-14| Host: New Mexico
• Jarvis Scott Invitational|Feb. 13-14| Host: Texas Tech
• Husky Classic |Feb. 13-14| Host: Washington
• Tiger Paw Invitational |Feb. 14-15| Host: Clemson
• Music City Challenge | Feb. 14-15 | Host: Vanderbilt

Exactly one month before the DI indoor track and field championships, it'll be the busiest weekend in indoor collegiate track and field. Top-ranked teams and top athletes will go head-to-head. There are so many great meets this weekend that some teams are splitting up among multiple meets. Expect records to fall across the country.

Last chance meets

• Arkansas Qualifier | Feb. 20 | Host: Arkansas
• Alex Wilson Invitational | Feb. 20-21 | Host: Notre Dame
• Virginia Tech Challenge|Feb. 20-21| Host: Virginia Tech
• Terrier DMR Challenge |Feb. 22| Host: Boston U
• USC Invite | Feb. 22 | Host: South Carolina

This will be the final regular season weekend of the season, with last-chance meets running around the country. The Terrier DMR Challenge will give college teams one last chance to work on their DMR order, handoffs and more. With conference championships up next, this will be the final time for some DMR squads to qualify for nationals and the final weekend for some individuals to qualify for conference championships.

Postseason meets

Most DI conference championships will be run the weekend of Friday, Feb. 27. 

Two weeks later, the DI indoor track and field championships will be held in Fayetteville, Arkansas starting March 13.

TRACK AND FIELD

🔥 B/R:  
🧠 WHAT TO KNOW: Comparing indoor and outdoor seasons | Wind and scoring explained | Greatest venues | Best uniforms

💥HISTORY: Programs with the most titles | Men's champ history | Women's champ history | Bowerman history | How the outdoor championships work