The 2026 Wanda Diamond League Final enters its decisive second day in Brussels on Saturday, September 5, as the world’s leading track and field athletes compete for the season’s coveted Diamond League titles. The two-day finale is being held at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme at the King Baudouin Stadium, with the final champions to be crowned across 32 disciplines. 

Final Day in Brussels

The Brussels finale brings the 2026 Diamond League season to a close after athletes competed across 14 qualifying meetings in four continents. The series began in Doha in May and travelled through Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States before reaching its final stop in Brussels. 

The second day of competition on September 5 is scheduled to begin at 6:08 pm local time (GMT+2) with the women’s javelin. The main broadcast window starts at 8 pm, with the women’s 400m among the opening events of the evening session. 

Diamond Trophies on the Line

Unlike a regular Diamond League meeting, the Brussels event determines the champions of the series. Athletes earned their places in the final through performances and points accumulated during the qualifying season, with selected wild cards also part of the final fields. 

The official Diamond League calendar lists 32 disciplines whose champions will be decided over the two days. The event carries particular importance in 2026 because there is no Olympic Games or World Athletics Championships, making the Diamond Trophy one of the season’s major global athletics prizes. 

Star Athletes in Action

The Brussels final has attracted a strong field featuring Olympic and world-class performers. Among the athletes drawing attention are pole vault star Mondo Duplantis, sprinters and hurdlers and leading middle-distance competitors.

Duplantis enters the final after another standout season in the pole vault. The Swedish athlete has been targeting a sixth consecutive Diamond League title, while the Brussels competition also features a number of athletes looking to establish themselves at the top of their respective disciplines. 

The women’s 800m is another major attraction, with British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, Swiss athlete Audrey Werro, Femke Bol and reigning world champion Lilian Odira among the names scheduled for the Brussels final. The women’s 800m final is set for Saturday evening. 

Russell Brings World Record Form

US hurdler Masai Russell also arrives in Brussels after making headlines at the Zurich Diamond League meeting. She recently set a world record of 12.09 seconds in the women’s 100m hurdles, surpassing the previous mark held by Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan. Russell is scheduled to compete in Brussels as the season reaches its conclusion. 

Her appearance adds another layer of interest to a final already featuring several athletes who have produced major performances during the 2026 campaign.

Prize Money and Global Stakes

The Diamond League Final offers a total prize-money pool of $2.24 million, according to the official series information. The 2026 champions will also receive automatic qualification for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships, adding further significance to the Brussels finale.

The event is also the 50th edition of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, giving the Brussels meeting an additional anniversary significance. The venue is hosting the Diamond League Final over two days, similar to the format used in 2024. 

September 5 Marks Season Finale

With the Road to the Final now complete, September 5 represents the final opportunity for qualified athletes to claim a Diamond Trophy in 2026. The closing day will bring together title contenders from across sprinting, middle-distance and long-distance running, hurdles, jumps and throws.

The Brussels final is therefore more than the last meeting on the calendar. It is the point at which the season-long Diamond League campaign produces its champions, with the sport’s leading athletes competing for one of the most prominent titles of the 2026 outdoor athletics season. 

The European Union is set to hold talks with a Taliban delegation in Brussels over the return of failed Afghan asylum seekers, a move that has reignited debate over the bloc’s migration policies and its engagement with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers. The discussions come as several European governments seek stricter measures to address irregular migration and increase deportations of migrants who have no legal right to remain in Europe.

Belgium has approved short-term visas for five Taliban representatives to attend the meeting. While EU officials insist that the talks do not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban government, human rights organizations have criticized the decision, arguing that it undermines the European Union’s stance on human rights and accountability.

The meeting is expected to focus on practical arrangements for returning Afghan nationals whose asylum applications have been rejected. European authorities say the discussions are necessary because Afghanistan remains a major source of asylum seekers across the continent.

According to Belgian officials, the visas granted to the Taliban delegation are valid only within Belgium and do not permit travel across the wider Schengen Area. Authorities also confirmed that the visas are limited to a single day and were issued following security assessments.

Migration Policy Takes Center Stage

The talks reflect growing pressure on European governments to tighten immigration controls amid rising public concern over migration. In recent years, several EU member states have pushed for stronger deportation mechanisms, particularly for individuals who have exhausted legal avenues to remain in Europe.

European Commission officials have argued that engagement with Taliban authorities is necessary to facilitate the return of migrants. Earlier this month, EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner stated that Brussels has limited options when dealing with Afghanistan and must engage with those currently exercising authority in the country.

Data from European agencies show that EU member states received nearly one million asylum applications from Afghan nationals between 2013 and 2024. Approximately half of those applications were approved during that period.

Rights Groups Object

The planned meeting has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, which say the EU risks compromising its principles by engaging with the Taliban while continuing to condemn its human rights record.

Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups have warned that returning Afghans to a country facing a severe humanitarian crisis raises serious legal and ethical concerns. Critics argue that many Afghans continue to face economic hardship, food insecurity, and restrictions on basic freedoms under Taliban rule.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict social regulations, particularly affecting women and girls. International organizations have repeatedly criticized restrictions on female education, employment opportunities, and access to public spaces.

Officials familiar with the discussions emphasize that the meeting is focused on migration management rather than diplomatic recognition. However, analysts note that direct engagement with Taliban representatives reflects the practical challenges European governments face in implementing deportation policies.

The issue has become increasingly sensitive across Europe, where migration remains a major political topic. Rising support for right-wing and anti-immigration parties in several countries has added pressure on governments to demonstrate tougher border and asylum policies.

The outcome of the Brussels talks could influence future EU policy toward Afghanistan and set a precedent for how European institutions engage with governments that lack formal international recognition. For now, the meeting highlights the difficult balance between migration management, diplomatic realities, and human rights concerns.