If you’ve ever visualized yourself crossing the finish line at a Spartan World Championship event – dreaming about the long-awaited realization of months of dedication and hard work – then Spartan National Series events are the perfect gateways for Open to Elite athletes to start competing on the world stage and earning global Spartan glory. Think you have what it takes to give it a shot or curious if National Series events are for you? Here, we’ll explain what National Series events are, how to sign up, and how these events can help you break into Competitive Racing and get you one step closer to Regional and World Championships.
What Is a Spartan National Series Event?
Spartan National Series events are distinct competitions at specific designated courses throughout many countries and recognized nations across the world where we ramp up the competition and awards ceremony; offer special-edition, elevated medals; and – for Age Group and Elite athletes competing in these series events – provide the first entry pathway into the competitive side of the Spartan world, with more Regional Series-qualifying slots than regular season events. Depending on your location, your National Series will likely be a two- to five-event run where you’ll conquer a Sprint 5K, a Super 10K, and a Beast 21K race with both Elite and Age Group categories for different levels of competition (more on qualification and rules below).
Perhaps the best part about National Series events? They take place at regular season race weekends across the country, so even if you consider yourself an Open-heat racer for life, we encourage you to come witness the sport’s strongest athletes battling it out on the course after you finish your race. Who knows – you might just get inspired…
The 2026 Event Calendar
With a total of 22 National Series events – from North America to PANAM, APAC, and Europe – planned for 2026, this is the perfect time to commit, show up, and see what you’re made of (or even just to cheer on your favorite Elite or Age Group racers from the spectator area).
Qualification and Rules
National Series qualification rules will remain the same from 2025 to 2026. Even if you’re interested in racing as an Elite, there are no qualification requirements for National Series event heats. However, athletes racing Elite and Age Group at National Series events will be scored in separate buckets and only Elite racers earning a top-25 spot in their race will receive a qualifying spot in their respective 2026 Regional Series Elite heat (meaning you can still qualify for an Elite Regional Series race without winning the National Series!).
All National Series of two or more races will use a simple 300-point system to rank racers, and the racer with the most points in their category at the series’ conclusion will be crowned the Series winner. You must complete a mandatory number of races – depending on how many total races are in your nation’s Series – to be eligible for prize money and top rankings. (For example, Series with only two races require you to complete both, while Series with five races require only three total finishes, and your best efforts will always be prioritized if you complete more races than is necessary.)
Please note: If you sign up for an Elite-level Regional Series but fail to qualify for the Elite heat by earning a top-25 spot in a National Series Elite category, you will be automatically shifted to an Age Group heat at your following event. Some National Series also have nation-specific rule determinations, so be sure to consult our official rulebook if you’re unsure where your qualification and scoring status stands, or for more information on our points system and potential tiebreakers.
Looking Ahead
Taking the leap into Competitive Racing and making your mark on the Spartan National Series is an impressive first step toward reaching your goals and building a name for yourself in the obstacle course racing world. Big news on the next step – Regional Championships, including locations (plus one new for 2026), new designs for location-specific, special-edition shirts and medals, and more – is coming soon.
