Monaco Athletics Festival: high jump comes to Port Hercule

Bringing together the world’s top high jumpers, the Monaco Athletics Festival takes athletics out of the stadium and into the very heart of the Principality. The spectacular format is a new way to bring world-class athletes closer to the public.

 In Monaco, the waterfront can become a motor racing circuit, host the start of a cycling race, or, for one evening, be transformed into an outdoor athletics arena.

Based at Port Hercule, the Monaco Athletics Festival Monaco has brought a unique high jump competition to Monaco, starting in 2026.

Mutaz Barshim’s vision

This new sporting event in Monaco is part of the What Gravity Tour, the first international series dedicated entirely to the high jump. The series was created by Mutaz Barshim, one of the sport’s leading figures. The Qatari Olympic gold medallist and three-time world champion wants to use his experience and profile to give high jumpers greater exposure and modernise the discipline’s image.

The Monaco Athletics Festival is also part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver, ensuring it enjoys official international sporting recognition with competitors able to earn world ranking points by taking part.

The 2026 edition

The inaugural edition of the festival took place on 5 August 2026, with American high jumper JuVaughn Harrison taking the title. His winning jump of 2.34 metres was the world’s best performance of the season at the time. His compatriot Tyus Wilson finished second with 2.30 metres, followed by Italy’s Christian Falocchi and Poland’s Mateusz Kołodziejski, who both cleared 2.27 metres. Mutaz Barshim, who founded the What Gravity Tour, cleared 2.10 metres.

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