Where to watch NCAA track and field championship first rounds: Schedule, times, channels, live streams for 2026

The 2026 NCAA track and field championships are on the horizon, but the first rounds get started this week in Lexington and Fayetteville.

The NCAA East and West first rounds will kick off in the south this weekend, ultimately deciding who will advance and qualify for the national championship meet in June. Going into this weekend, the top 48 individual athletes and top 24 relay teams in each event have been declared to compete. 

Women's defending champions Georgia remain in position to have another strong performance, while the men's side is a bit more unsure. Last year's co-champion Texas Tech is holding strong in the national rankings, but still behind programs like Arkansas, Oregon and Georgia. 

Who will qualify for the 2026 national championships?

Here's everything you need to know about the NCAA track and field championship first rounds, including TV channel and streaming options for each meet.

Where to watch NCAA Track and Field Championship first rounds: TV channel, live stream

• TV channel: N/A
• Live stream: ESPN app

The 2026 NCAA track and field championships will air exclusively on the ESPN family of networks. 

To tune in for the first rounds, fans will need to stream the action using the ESPN app.

Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the ESPN app.

NCAA Track and Field Championships first rounds schedule 2026

The 2026 NCAA track and field first rounds will take place from May 27-30 in both Lexington, Kentucky (East) and Fayetteville, Arkansas (West). At both sites, the men will compete Wednesday and Friday, and the women will compete Thursday and Saturday. 

For the full meet schedule for the East first round in Lexington, click here. 

For the full meet schedule for the West first round in Fayetteville, click here.

The top 12 competitors or relay teams from each event at each site advance to the finals in Oregon. 

NCAA Track and Field Championships winners history

Here's a look at the five most recent national champions on both the men's and women's side.

Women's

Men's