Finding track and field on television today feels like a scavenger hunt. Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. One minute you’re watching a high-stakes 60m dash on a major network, and the next, you’re digging through a niche streaming app just to find a long jump final. But here is the thing: the 2026 season is actually incredibly stacked. We are currently in the thick of the indoor circuit, and if you know where to look, you can see records falling practically every weekend.
Right now, we are seeing a massive shift in how the sport reaches your living room. NBC and Peacock still hold the keys to the kingdom for the big American meets, while FloTrack and USATF.TV handle the heavy lifting for everything else. It’s not just about the Olympics anymore.
The Big January Lineup: What is Live Right Now
If you are looking for track and field on television today, January 18, 2026, the action is predominantly coming from the indoor collegiate and invitational scene. We just wrapped up the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee on January 10, where Jacob Kiplimo secured a historic three-peat.
Today specifically, the spotlight is on two major events:
- The VA Showcase: This is arguably the biggest high school and club meet in the country. It’s being streamed live on FloTrack. We already saw Quincy Wilson clock a blistering 1:00.56 in the 500m yesterday—the second-fastest high school time ever.
- Jimmy Carnes Invitational: Taking place in Gainesville, Florida. You can catch the final day of action on FloTrack as well.
The schedule moves fast. In just a few days, on January 24, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix hits Boston. That one is a big deal because it jumps from streaming-only to the big screen on NBC and Peacock from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. If you want to see the pros—the Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomases of the world—that is your target.
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Why the "Where to Watch" Question is Getting Harder
You've probably noticed that your cable subscription doesn't cover half of these meets. It’s annoying.
Basically, the rights are split. World Athletics has their own broadcast partners, while USATF (USA Track & Field) signs their own deals. For US-based fans, Peacock is pretty much mandatory if you want to see the Diamond League or the major USATF Indoor and Outdoor Championships. But for the hardcore fans who want the "nitty-gritty"—the qualifying heats, the field events that TV usually ignores, and the European indoor meets—you often have to shell out for a FloTrack or RunnerSpace subscription.
The 2026 Television Calendar: Mark These Dates
If you’re trying to plan your viewing for the rest of the year, the schedule is surprisingly firm. The "big" television windows are usually reserved for the weekends.
- February 1: The Millrose Games in New York. This is the crown jewel of indoor track. NBC and Peacock will have the main broadcast from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
- February 28 - March 1: USATF Indoor Championships in Staten Island. The Sunday session (March 1) is the one to watch on NBC from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.
- May 8: The Diamond League kicks off in Doha. NBC Sports usually carries these, often via delayed broadcasts on CNBC or live on Peacock.
- July 4: The Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Nothing says Independence Day like elite distance running at Hayward Field. Catch it on NBC and Peacock from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
Beyond the Screen: The Streaming Revolution
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the "broadcast window."
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When you watch track and field on television today, you often get a highly edited two-hour window. They show a race, a quick interview, and maybe thirty seconds of a shot putter. It's frustrating if you actually like the field events. This is where the streaming services have changed the game.
On Peacock, they’ve started offering "world feeds" for major championships. These feeds don't have the fancy NBC graphics or the American-centric commentary, but they show everything. You get to see the entire high jump competition from start to finish. For a true fan, that’s way better than the "fluff" pieces you get on network TV.
FloTrack and the "Paywall" Debate
FloTrack is a polarizing name in the track community. On one hand, they provide coverage of events that would otherwise never be seen by anyone outside the stadium. On the other, their subscription price is steep.
But for events like the World Athletics Continental Tour or the high school championships happening this weekend, they are the only game in town. If you’re a parent or a former athlete wanting to keep up with the next generation of stars like Sophie Rambo (who just broke Athing Mu’s HS 500m record), you sort of have to pay the entry fee.
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How to Make Sure You Never Miss a Race
The best way to keep track of all this isn't actually a TV guide. Those are usually out of date before the ink dries.
Instead, you need to follow the USATF Broadcast Schedule page directly. They update it as soon as TV windows are finalized. Also, the World Athletics website has a "Where to Watch" feature that geolocates your IP address and tells you exactly which local broadcaster has the rights to the Diamond League in your country.
Actionable Steps for the Track Fan
Watching the sport shouldn't be this much work, but until the rights are consolidated, you have to be proactive.
- Download the Peacock App: If you only have one service, make it this one. It covers the Diamond League, the USATF Championships, and the upcoming Grand Prix meets.
- Check the USATF.TV Webcast Schedule: Many smaller meets are streamed for free or for a low "plus" subscription fee.
- Follow Live Result Sites: Use FlashResults or Delta Timing while you watch. Television coverage often misses the lane assignments or the splits; having the live results open on your phone makes the TV experience ten times better.
- Set Reminders for the Millrose Games (Feb 1): It is the next "can't miss" televised event that will be available on standard cable/satellite via NBC.
Track and field is arguably in its best era since the 90s. The times are faster, the personalities are bigger, and the technology is better. Don't let a confusing TV schedule keep you from seeing the fastest people on earth do their thing.
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