The 2026 Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship Weekend looks like it’s going to be one of the biggest OCR events on the calendar next year. It’s taking place from November 19 to 22, 2026, and brings Spartan back to the dunes of Abu Dhabi for a full weekend of championship racing, desert conditions, and plenty going on around the races too.

Elite athletes from around the world will be in Abu Dhabi for the championship races, so there’s a big level of competition here straight away. But it’s not all about one headline moment. There are different race formats running across the weekend, which makes it feel a lot bigger than a single title event.

What to expect from Spartan World Championship Weekend

The main focus is the World Championship racing. A select group of elite athletes will take on the 3K Elite World Championship, while Elite and Age Group racers looking for something tougher can go after the qualification based 21K Beast Championships.

There are also Sprint and Super races across the weekend, plus a women’s night Sprint, a co-ed night Sprint, and a 3K Elite Team Relay where co-ed teams of three represent their country. So while the championship races are the headline, the wider event programme gives the whole weekend a lot more depth.

Dune-Filled Desert Setting 

Spartan is back in the dunes of Abu Dhabi, which gives the event a very different feel from your standard race weekend. The desert course is designed to really push you, with sand, heat, and a setting that’s going to test grit as much as fitness.

It’s also close enough to be an easy trip, with the venue around 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi, but still feels like a real destination event. 

This unique venue is a big part of what will make the Spartan World Championship Weekend so unforgettable.

One for the UAE race calendar

The 2026 Abu Dhabi Spartan World Championship Weekend has all the makings of a huge event. You’ve got elite competition, a packed race schedule, and a setting that instantly makes it stand out. 

On top of that, the weekend will also bring in local food, cultural demonstrations, and dune buggies, which adds even more fun to the whole thing.

If you’re into OCR, this is a weekend that you won’t want to miss.

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