Ironman Announces New Event in Jacksonville

Ironman has announced the addition of a new full-distance triathlon in Jacksonville, Florida, scheduled for May 16, 2026 with a course that will take athletes through downtown Jacksonville passing into Duval and Nassau Counties.

The inaugural edition of the Ironman Jacksonville will kick off with a 2.4–mile swim in St. Johns River. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the 112–mile two loop bike course that winds throughout downtown Jacksonville, over the Trout River and passes into neighboring Nassau County before returning south for the second loop.

Athletes will return into town to transition to the 13.1–mile, three loop run course that navigates downtown and Riverside Avenue passing through some of Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods. The course continues down Jacksonville’s Riverwalk and crosses over the blue Main Street bridg before finishing below the city skyline on E. Independent Drive in the heart of downtown Jacksonville.

“Securing an Ironman race and the internationally recognized Ironman brand for Jacksonville represents a significant milestone for our city,” said Michael Corrigan, president and chief executive officer of Visit Jacksonville. “Hosting these elite athletes is a true testament to Jacksonville’s premier facilities and renowned hospitality. We are honored to welcome the athletes, along with their families and supporters, to Florida’s championship city.”

The 2026 Ironman Jacksonville triathlon will offer qualifying slots to the 2026 Ironman World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii.

“Jacksonville’s southern charm, welcoming community and beautiful weather offer the perfect location to bring a new Ironman event early in the year,” said Todd Fitzgerald, regional director for Ironman. “As one of the largest cities by land area in the contiguous United States, Jacksonville offers the ideal space to host an event this size. Its urban feel and miles of beautiful roads will provide athletes another unique racing experience in the Sunshine State. We’re proud to partner with Visit Jacksonville to bring this new race experience to life and look forward to welcoming athletes to discover everything that makes Jacksonville such an amazing race destination.”