Amusan poised for eighth Diamond League season return as 2026 campaign begins in Doha

Nigerian sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan is expected to kick off her eighth Wanda Diamond League season in Doha, following confirmation that the Qatari capital will host the opening leg of the 2026 campaign on May 8.

The 28-year-old, who famously began her 2022 season in Doha before going on to win Nigeria’s first-ever world title in the 100m hurdles, set a world record, defended her Commonwealth Games crown, and claimed back-to-back Diamond League trophies, will be aiming to replicate that historic run.

Amusan returned to form in 2025 with a silver medal at the World Championships in Tokyo, bouncing back from a disappointing 2024 season in which she failed to reach the Olympic final.

Attention will also turn to long jumper Ese Brume, whose absence from the Diamond League in 2024 and 2025 left a noticeable void. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if she rejoins the elite field in 2026.

Meanwhile, the trio of Favour Ofili, Udodi Onwuzurike, and Nathaniel Ezekiel, who made their Diamond League debuts in 2025, are expected to build on their promising starts.

All three qualified for the finals of their respective events last season, though Ofili, now representing Turkey, opted not to run in the 200m final.

African shot put king, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will also be keen to return to the final of his event after missing out in 2025.

Nigerian hopes may also rest on emerging stars such as World 100m finalist Kanyinsola Ajayi and Olympic 400m finalist Samuel Ogazi, who could join the Diamond League roster in 2026.

The 2026 Wanda Diamond League will span 14 meetings across four continents, culminating in a two-day final in Brussels on September 4–5.

After Doha, the series will travel to Shanghai and Xiamen in China, followed by Rabat for the African leg on May 31. Rome will host the first European meeting, with subsequent stops in Stockholm, Oslo, Paris, Monaco, London, Lausanne, Silesia, and Zurich.

With no Olympic Games or World Championships scheduled for 2026, the Diamond Trophy stands as the most coveted global title in track and field.

Swedish pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis will aim for a sixth consecutive title, while US sprint star Noah Lyles looks to match or surpass the all-time record of seven Diamond League crowns.