Fans looking to celebrate the 4th of July weekend at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon for the 2026 Prefontaine Classic can now mark Wednesday, February 25th on their calendars.
Starting at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, tickets to the 51st edition of The Prefontaine Classic can be purchased at www.PreClassic.com. Two-day ticket packages start at just $45.00.
The 2026 Prefontaine Classic will be a two-day event contested on July 3rd & 4th, coinciding with America’s 250th Birthday. The two days of elite track and field competition will offer fans world-class Diamond League performances, family-friendly festivities, and traditional 4th of July celebrations.
The 2025 Pre Classic was recognized as the best single-day track and field meet ever by World Athletics’ competition performance rankings. With more than 250 athletes from 30+ countries expected to compete at this year’s Pre Classic, the meet will once again be a global celebration of professional track and field.
In addition to watching the world’s best athletes compete, fans can enjoy many engagement opportunities over the holiday weekend. Festivities kick off on Wednesday, July 1st with the Oregon Track Club All Comers Meet at The Prefontaine Classic. Athletes ages 12 and under are invited to run, jump, and throw at Hayward Field.
On Thursday, July 2nd, members of the track and field community are encouraged to run or walk a mile on the track at Hayward Field for the third-annual Night of Miles at The Prefontaine Classic, starting at 6:00 p.m. The event is free to all who wish to participate.
The Oregon Track Club Butte to Butte will continue its 50+ year summer holiday tradition the morning of July 4th. Before heading to Hayward Field for the Pre Classic, fans can celebrate on the streets of Eugene through a 10K run, 5K run, or 4K walk.
Pre Classic VIP Experience packages will also be available for purchase beginning February 25th, with early-bird pricing offering a discount of at least $50. VIP guests can enjoy a Prefontaine Classic experience like none other, with elevated global cuisine, live entertainment, a premium open bar, a private all-inclusive concession stand, and the opportunity to celebrate with the world’s best athletes.
Fans can choose to stay steps away from Hayward Field in the University of Oregon residence halls. Two- and three-day accommodation packages, including a meal plan and parking, will be available for purchase by ticket holders starting February 25th.
Fans are encouraged to sign up for e-mail updates to receive the latest on tickets, hospitality experiences, volunteer opportunities, and more at www.PreClassic.com.
About The Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is the premier track and field meet in the United States. Since its inception in 1975, the meet has been a fixture in the global track and field calendar, earning a reputation for bringing the world’s best athletes to Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The meet is named after Steve Prefontaine and serves as a “living memorial to Pre” (Bill Bowerman, June 1, 1975) and has been sponsored by Nike since 1978. The world-renowned success of The Prefontaine Classic led to it becoming a founding member of the Wanda Diamond League circuit in 2010, and hosting the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in 2023.
The 2023 edition of the Pre Classic earned the highest competition performance score for an invitational meeting ever recorded by World Athletics. The second-highest performance score in history also belongs to the Pre Classic, achieved at the 50th edition of the meeting in 2025. Since joining the Diamond League, the Pre Classic has earned the season’s top competition score among the more than 1,000 annual global invitational meetings five times (2025, 2023, 2017, 2016 & 2013).
About the Wanda Diamond League
The Wanda Diamond League is the elite one-day meeting series in athletics. It comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field, delivering world-class competitions for fans and athletes in all four corners of the world.
The series provides a unique opportunity for athletes across the full diversity of track and field to compete regularly at the highest level throughout the outdoor season. In 32 different disciplines, athletes compete for points at the 14 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final.
With events in 13 different countries across four different continents, the Diamond League is one of the most truly global series in world sport.
In 2025, it welcomed 400,000 spectators to some of the planet’s most iconic arenas and was broadcast on television in 170 different countries. It also reached an online fanbase of five million social media followers worldwide, notching up more than one billion impressions and more than 900 million video views across all platforms.
The 2026 Diamond League season will begin in Doha on May 8 and culminate at the two-day series final in Brussels on September 4-5.
