The wait is almost over for track and field fans—the 2026 Diamond League season is about to explode into action, and this year's opener is shaping up to be an absolute blockbuster. Headlining the event in China are global icons like pole vault king Armand Duplantis and Kenyan distance legend Faith Kipyegon, but all eyes will also be on Great Britain's rising star, Amy Hunt. You can catch all the live action on the BBC.

Originally scheduled to kick off in Doha on 8 May, the season start was postponed until June due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Now, the spotlight shifts to Shanghai/Keqiao, where the world's best will battle for early-season bragging rights. With 15 stops on the Diamond League circuit, the road leads to a thrilling two-day final in Brussels this September—just before the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship caps off the year.

Hunt, just 24 years old and already a world 200m silver medallist from Tokyo last year, is ready to prove she belongs among the elite. She'll face a stacked women's 200m field that includes Jamaica's Shericka Jackson and American powerhouse Sha'Carri Richardson—a race that promises fireworks from the gun.

But the British contingent doesn't stop there. Ben Pattison, who stunned the world with an 800m bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, is back to full health after a frustrating 2025 derailed by a stress fracture. Now the second-fastest British 800m runner in history (behind only the legendary Sebastian Coe), Pattison has his sights set on a golden summer. "The plan is to do both [European and Commonwealth Championships] and my goal is to get two medals," he told BBC Sport ahead of the China meet. "It's been three years now since I've got a medal at a major championship, so I feel like it's time."

Also flying the Union Jack are discus thrower Lawrence Okoye and 5,000m runners Melissa Courtney-Bryant and Revee Walcott-Nolan, all eager to make their mark on the global stage. With Botswanan sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo also in the mix, Saturday's event on BBC Two from 12:00 BST is unmissable for any athletics fan.

Whether you're training for your next PB or just love the thrill of elite competition, the Diamond League is where legends are made—and this season's opening chapter promises to be one for the ages. Lace up, gear up, and get ready to be inspired.