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13 Feb’ 2026

Prince Albert II and Mutaz Barshim Sign Agreement to add Monaco Athletics Festival to the What Gravity Challenge World Tour

Monaco: H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Qatari world and Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim have signed an official agreement confirming the inclusion of the Monaco Athletics Festival as a new stop on the What Gravity Challenge World Tour. The event is scheduled to take place on 5 August 2026, marking an important milestone in the tour’s global expansion.

The event will be staged in the heart of the Principality of Monaco, delivering elite-level athletics competition in an iconic urban setting and further strengthening Monaco’s position as a world-class destination for major sporting events.

The What Gravity Challenge World Tour represents the evolution of a vision launched by Mutaz Barshim to take the high jump beyond traditional stadiums and into prominent global destinations.

The series has been designed as a cumulative league format, enabling athletes to collect points across multiple international stops, leading to an overall ranking and the crowning of the What Gravity Challenge World Tour Champion.

With Monaco’s inclusion, the 2026 calendar will feature four international stops:
Banská Bystrica, Slovakia – 24 February 2026
What Gravity Challenge, Doha, Qatar – 5 May 2026
Monaco Athletics Festival, Monaco – 5 August 2026
Hochsprung Heilbronn, Germany – 29–30 August 2026

This expanded schedule reflects the tour’s growing international presence and its ambition to bring together the world’s leading high jump stars across diverse cultural and sporting environments.

On this occasion, Mutaz Barshim, Founder of the What Gravity Challenge World Tour, said:
“Adding Monaco marks a proud moment for this project. Monaco is a symbol of excellence, history, and global sporting prestige. This partnership reflects a shared belief in the power of sport to inspire, connect cultures, and create a sustainable legacy for high jump.”

For his part, Rudolf Berlin, Vice President of the Monegasque Athletics Federation, stated:
“We are delighted to collaborate with Mutaz, a great champion with a clear and ambitious vision for the future of his sport. Integrating the Monaco Athletics Festival into the What Gravity Challenge World Tour aligns perfectly with our federation’s ambitions to build new bridges between the public and elite athletics. We hope this event will become a permanent fixture on Monaco’s sporting calendar and, given that high jump is one of the most thrilling disciplines in athletics, a major celebration of our sport.”

The What Gravity Challenge builds on the success of its inaugural edition in Doha, which was first held in 2024 at Katara Amphitheatre. The event attracted the world’s top high jump stars and achieved significant international media exposure through World Athletics platforms, alongside strong support from global partners and institutions.

With Monaco officially joining the 2026 calendar, the What Gravity Challenge World Tour enters a new phase of international growth, reaffirming its status as a leading global platform for elite high jump competition. Additional partnerships, expanded media cooperation, and future destinations will be announced in due course.
 

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