Dear Team Canada Nation,
The following is an important update on the 2026 Multisport World Championships in Abu Dhabi to help you understand your options as the global situation continues to evolve.
Current status:
  • World Triathlon has advised National Federations of the following:
    • Preparations for Abu Dhabi are continuing as planned;
    • Entry and refund deadlines are under review at the end of April, with the possibility of extensions if deemed necessary;
    • Further updates will be communicated to National Federations in early May.
  • The current refund deadline for entry fees is May 17;
  • At present, it is not possible to book flights from Canada to the UAE;
  • Triathlon Canada is unable to provide insurance coverage if federal travel advisories for Abu Dhabi remain at a high-risk (“red zone”) level;
  • Regional tensions affecting U.S.-allied countries are expected to remain elevated regardless of how the conflict evolves.
As you can understand, this is a challenging situation for everyone involved. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our athletes. Given the current circumstances, we are unable to recommend travel to Abu Dhabi as part of the 2026 season.
That said, our goal is to provide you with as many options as possible so you can still experience the World Championships you have worked hard to qualify for. We will continue to adapt as World Triathlon shares additional information. For now, we must operate within the framework currently available.
Available options proposed for 2026:
  1. Transfer to the 2026 World Triathlon Championships in Pontevedra
  2. Transfer to the 2026 World Triathlon Long Distance Duathlon Championships in Zofingen
  3. Wait for further updates regarding Abu Dhabi
Event Details:
World Triathlon Championships Pontevedra
  • Location: Pontevedra, Spain
  • Dates: September 23–27, 2026
  • Events: Sprint Triathlon, Standard Triathlon, Standard Aquabike, Mixed Relay
World Triathlon Powerman Long Distance Duathlon Championships Zofingen
  • Location: Zofingen, Switzerland
  • Date: September 6, 2026
  • Events: Long Distance Duathlon, Short Distance Duathlon*, Team Relay*
*The short distance duathlon and relay are not World Championship races, however are held in conjunction with the Long-Distance Duathlon World Championships
Please note that we must work within allocated quota spots for each discipline, gender, and age category. To manage this process effectively, Triathlon Canada Team Managers will contact athletes by discipline to facilitate transfers into the closest equivalent event in Pontevedra or Zofingen. We will also request additional quota spots, where possible, to help accommodate athlete preferences.
Additionally, we are beginning to explore options beyond 2026, including potential deferrals to the 2027 season.
We will keep the option open for those who prefer to wait for further clarity surrounding Abu Dhabi. If you wish to wait, no action is required at this time. This will allow our Team Managers to prioritize processing 2026 transfer requests efficiently.
As noted, not all details regarding contingency plans are finalized. Our current focus is to provide early alternatives to help minimize financial risk related to entry fees and travel arrangements.
Given this, in an effort to get a better feeling for each of your preferred options at this, we’d appreciate if you could complete the following (Google Form) by May 15th, 2026.
Lastly, we would also like to connect directly with Team Canada so we are able to try to answer as many questions as possible. To help us achieve this goal, we would like to schedule a Town Hall via Teams on Thursday, April 23rd at 4:00PM. Please register for the session using the following link: CLICK TO REGISTER
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued commitment.
Sincerely,
Christine Cogger & Ella Calder
Age Group Team Managers
Triathlon Canada