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Triathlons in California

California has 45 upcoming triathlons scheduled for 2026. That is the highest event count for triathlons of any state. Most of the calendar falls in the warmer months: 30 of 45 races (67%) take place between May and September, with August (11 events) the busiest month. No single city dominates the calendar. Solana Beach leads with 3 races, followed by Santa Cruz (3), Truckee (2), and Goleta (2). The remaining 78% of the calendar is spread across smaller cities.

Triathlons by month in California

Aug (11) · Jul (8) · Sep (8) · Oct (7) · Nov (3) · Mar (2) · Jun (2) · Dec (2) · Apr (1) · May (1)

Notable California events

  • IRONMAN CaliforniaSacramento, October 18 full Ironman triathlon

Showing 24 of 45

Crescent City Triathlon
Triathlon

Crescent City Triathlon

July 26, 2026
Crescent City, CA
2026 Solana Beach Triathlon & Duathlon and Solana Beach 5K
Triathlon

2026 Solana Beach Triathlon & Duathlon and Solana Beach 5K

July 26, 2026
Solana Beach, CA

Triathlon

Donner Lake Sprint & Kids Triathlon - Saturday

Truckee, CA

Triathlon

Donner Lake Sprint & Kids Triathlon - Saturday

July 26, 2026
Truckee, CA

Triathlon

Solana Beach Triathlon, Duathlon, Aquabike, & Aquathlon

Solana Beach, CA

Triathlon

Solana Beach Triathlon, Duathlon, Aquabike, & Aquathlon

July 26, 2026
Solana Beach, CA

Triathlon

2026 Goleta Beach Triathlon

Goleta, CA

Triathlon

2026 Goleta Beach Triathlon

July 26, 2026
Goleta, CA

Triathlon

2026 Solana Beach Triathlon & Duathlon and Solana Beach 5K

Solana Beach, CA

Triathlon

2026 Solana Beach Triathlon & Duathlon and Solana Beach 5K

July 26, 2026
Solana Beach, CA
Goleta Beach Triathlon, Aquabike, Swim/Run
Triathlon

Goleta Beach Triathlon, Aquabike, Swim/Run

July 26, 2026
Goleta, CA

Triathlon

Donner Lake Olympic & Half Iron Triathlon - Sunday

Truckee, CA

Triathlon

Donner Lake Olympic & Half Iron Triathlon - Sunday

July 30, 2026
Truckee, CA
Hermosa Beach Triathlon
Triathlon

Hermosa Beach Triathlon

August 9, 2026
Hermosa Beach, CA
Tri Santa Cruz
Triathlon

Tri Santa Cruz

August 9, 2026
Santa Cruz, CA
Hermosa Beach Triathlon
Triathlon

Hermosa Beach Triathlon

August 9, 2026
Hermosa Beach, CA
June Lake Triathlon
Triathlon

June Lake Triathlon

August 15, 2026
June Lake, CA
Courage Triathlon 2026
Triathlon

Courage Triathlon 2026

August 15, 2026
Lake Almanor, CA
2026 CVC San Diego Triathlon and San Diego Tri Series 5K
Triathlon

2026 CVC San Diego Triathlon and San Diego Tri Series 5K

August 16, 2026
Chula Vista, CA
Millerton Madness Triathlon
Triathlon

Millerton Madness Triathlon

August 23, 2026
Friant, CA
Sandman Tri
Triathlon

Sandman Tri

August 23, 2026
Aptos, CA
Santa Barbara Triathlon & Beach Festival
Triathlon

Santa Barbara Triathlon & Beach Festival

August 29, 2026
Santa Barbara, CA
Barbara Schmidt Millar Women's Triathlon & 5K: Celebrating Life, Empowering Women
Triathlon

Barbara Schmidt Millar Women's Triathlon & 5K: Celebrating Life, Empowering Women

August 30, 2026
Nevada City, CA
Menlo Park Back-to-School Kids Triathlon
Triathlon

Menlo Park Back-to-School Kids Triathlon

August 30, 2026
Menlo Park, CA
Silicon Valley Mini Kids Triathlon
Triathlon

Silicon Valley Mini Kids Triathlon

September 12, 2026
San Jose, CA
2026 San Diego Tri Classic & San Diego 5K
Triathlon

2026 San Diego Tri Classic & San Diego 5K

September 12, 2026
San Diego, CA
Pacific Coast Triathlon
Triathlon

Pacific Coast Triathlon

September 13, 2026
Laguna Beach, CA
Shaver Lake Mile High Triathlon
Triathlon

Shaver Lake Mile High Triathlon

September 13, 2026
Shaver Lake, CA
Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz
Triathlon

Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz

September 15, 2026
Santa Cruz, CA

Triathlons in Nearby States

Frequently asked questions

What are the standard triathlon distances?
The main distances are Sprint (750m swim, 20K bike, 5K run), Olympic (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run), Half-Ironman/70.3 (1.2mi swim, 56mi bike, 13.1mi run), and full Ironman (2.4mi swim, 112mi bike, 26.2mi run). Browse all distances on RACE.
What do I need for my first triathlon?
At minimum you need a swimsuit, goggles, a road or tri bike, helmet, running shoes, and a race belt for your number. Many beginners start with a sprint triathlon, which can be completed in 1-2 hours.
What is the difference between sprint and Olympic triathlon?
A sprint triathlon is roughly half the distance of an Olympic triathlon. Sprints typically take 1-1.5 hours while Olympic distance races take 2-3.5 hours. Sprints are ideal for beginners.
How do I qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship?
Athletes qualify by earning a slot at an IRONMAN-branded qualifying race. Each full IRONMAN event allocates slots to age group winners. The World Championship is held annually in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
What are the biggest triathlons in the US?
The SuperTri Chicago Triathlon is the largest single triathlon event with 8,000+ athletes. IRONMAN events in Texas, Florida, Lake Placid, and Arizona draw thousands. Escape From Alcatraz is a bucket-list race. Find them all on RACE.