Everything you need to know to qualify for 2026 Age Group Team Canada

Triathlon Canada has released its preliminary schedule of qualifying races for the 2026 Age Group Team Canada. The list of races have qualifying spots for the 2026 World Triathlon Championship in Pontevedra, Spain and the 2026 Multisport World Championship in Abu, Dhabi, UAE. Dates for both championships have not been released.

From across the country, a total of 42 races offer one to three spots in each age group. Broken down by province, each offer a different number of qualifying races and spots. It’s important to be in the know so you don’t miss your chance.

All spots awarded at each race are per age group. For the sprint and standard triathlon events, qualifying spots are for the World Triathlon Championship in Spain. For trail, cross triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and aquabike events the spots are designated for the World Multisport Championship in the AUE.

Newfoundland

The qualifying window in the far east opens in July with the cross triathlon event at the Paradise Triathlon on the 13th. Each age group awards one spot to the top finishers.

Next up is the standard aquabike and standard triathlon at the St. John’s Triathlon, on July 27, where one spot is reserved for each winner across the age groups.

Prince Edward Island

Athletes have one shot in PEI at the TriLobster event on July 27. Though it is only one event, it offers a lot of racing options. There will be one spot for each of the races, which involve an aquathlon, mixed relay, sprint duathlon, sprint triathlon, standard aquabike, standard duathlon, and standard triathlon.

New Brunswick

It’s a one shot deal in New Brunswick as well. Gravelman Canada will award two spots per age group at its cross duathlon and cross triathlon races on July 20, in Fredericton.

Quebec

If you missed your opportunity in Atlantic Canada, head west to Quebec. There are 12 events in the province with qualifying spots on offer. Each one only has one spot per age group, so the competition is still stiff even though the opportunities are plentiful.

First chance at a spot will be at the Triathlon de Joliette in the spring triathlon on June 1. Two more races in June will serve up more opportunity, at the Triathlon S-Triman Sherbrooke in the standard triathlon, June 15, and the long distance triathlon June 27-29 at the Sail Challenge Cap Québec propulsé par Argon 18.

Three more chances in July are happening at the Triathlon de Gatineau présenté par Première Générale in the aquathlon and sprint triathlon on July 5. The XTERRA Québec Pan Am Tour has spots in its cross duathlon and cross triathlon in Lac-Delage, July 11-13. That same weekend, the Trimemphré Magog has spots to award in the long distance triathlon and the standard triathlon.

A total of five race in August provide plenty of chances at the Triathlon Duchesnay at the sprint triathlon even, August 2 in Sante-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier. The Triathlon de Verdun Desjardins in Verdun, and Triathlon Valleyfield’s sprint triathlon the following weekend. The XTERRA Bromont has two qualifying races with its cross duathlon and cross triathlon on August 23-24. Capping of a busy month of racing in the province is the Triathlon Lac-Etchemin with spots in its standard triathlon on August 30.

If you happen to miss any of those or want another chance, September offers the final opportunity at the Triathlon/Duathlon de Boucherville in the standard duathlon on the 28th.

Ontario

In the center of it all are 12 more races in Ontario. All but one race offers one spot per age group. Three spots are available at the provincial championships.

Beginning on June 7 there are back-to-back chances with three weekends of racing. Test yourself at the MultiSport Canada Gravenhurst standard duathlon. The next weekend in Guelph give it your best shot at the Subaru Series Guelph Lake 1 in the sprint duathlon and sprint triathlon. Next up, the MultiSport Canada Rose City has spots in the standard aquabike and standard triathlon on June 21 in Welland.

July is a busy month for racing, kicking off with the MultiSport Canada Bracebridge sprint duathlon on July 13. The MultiSport Canada K-town is awarding spots in its long distance aquabike and long distance triathlon in Kingston, July 20. One more event that same weekend offers more chances to qualify with the Subaru Series Owen Sound standard aquabike, standard triathlon, and standard duathlon. Wrapping up July racing on the 27th, the Toronto Triathlon Festival is giving out spots in the sprint and standard triathlon.

August offers two more events at which to nab your spot with the MultiSport Canada Wasaga Beach sprint triathlon on the 23rd, and the Triathlon Ontario Draft Legal Provincial Championships mixed relay, with its three spots per age group, August 30.

Finally, on September 7, MultiSport Canada Lakeside has spots in the standard aquabike and standard triathlon. On September 14, the Niagara Falls Barrelman offers up your last chance to qualify in the long distance aquabike and long distance triathlon.

Manitoba

A single event in the prairies offers one spot per age group. The Peace Garden Triathlon has spots at its August 3 sprint triathlon in Boissevan.

Alberta

A handful more spots are on offer in Alberta with three qualifying races, offering two spots per age group each. The earliest chance to qualify is at the Race the Prairies Aquathlon on April 13 in Edmonton, with a second Race the Prairies event on July 19 in Beaumont where another two spots are up for grabs in the sprint duathlon.

The DO North Tri & Trail also has two spots in its sprint triathlon and three spots in the cross triathlon in Edmonton, August 23-24.

British Columbia

If you are on the other end of the country, or taking a trip out west this summer, there are plenty of chances to qualify in BC. Most of the 10 races with qualifying spots only have one per age group, with two exceptions.

The events with three spots are the Apple Triathlon in Kelowna, host of the National Age Group Championships, August 9-10. It has spots in the sprint and standard triathlon, and standard aquabike . The other is the inaugural PTO T100 Vancouver race with spots in the long distance triathlon, June 13-15.

Other action is going down at the Oliver Triathlon with the sprint triathlon, long distance triathlon, long distance aquabike, and mixed relay on June 7-8. The same weekend, the Squamish Triathlon has spots in its cross triathlon.

The Peach Classic in Penticton will be awarding spots in the sprint and standard triathlon, and standard aquabike on July 20. Off the mainland in Victoria, athletes can earn a spot at the Elk Lake Triathlon in the standard aquathlon and standard duathlon, August 3.

September is the latest month to compete, with spots at the Frontrunners Fit Chiropractic Dodge City X cross triathlon in Cumberland on September 6. Last chance to qualify in BC will be at the Cultus Lake Triathlon in the standard aquabike and standard triathlon, September 14.

Other qualifying criteria

Spots awarded to top finishers who don’t take their spot roll down to the next athlete, but only to the eighth spot. If you did not finish in the top eighth in your age group you are not eligible to take a roll down spot.

To be considered for any spot you must first fill out an Expression of Interest (EOI) and submit it before the race. Generally, EOIs open three weeks prior to race day. EOI forms and other information can be found on the Triathlon Canada website.

Good luck!