Here we are, 2026 has arrived and we couldn’t be more excited to share what is coming. We are looking at nine continental championships across seven countries, from the passionate judo heartland of Georgia all the way to the streets of Paris. Whether you are here for the explosive senior action, the precision of kata, or watching the next generation make their mark, there is something for everyone.
Cadets finding their feet. Veterans proving age is just a number. Teams battling for collective glory and somewhere in between, the stories that remind us why we are so passionate about our sport in the first place. Oh, and one more thing: the road to Hollywood starts here. Los Angeles 2028 qualification also kicks off this year.
So grab your calendar and start planning because the next 12 months are going to give us plenty to remember. Fasten your judogi. The journey starts here.
APRIL: WHEN CHAMPIONS ARE CROWNED
European Judo Championships Seniors
16-19 April | Tbilisi, Georgia
The season erupts into life where East meets West, as Tbilisi opens its arms to Europe’s finest. Four days. Fourteen weight categories. One continental crown per division. The stakes? World ranking positions and the prestige that comes with standing atop the European podium. Georgia, a nation that breathes judo, will provide the perfect stage for technique, tactics and the relentless pursuit of excellence. This is where reputations are made and legends are born.
MAY: THE ART OF PERFECTION
European Judo Championships Kata
16-17 May | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
From explosive competition to meditative precision. From the roar of the crowd to the silence of concentration. Sarajevo transforms the conversation from “who throws hardest” to “who demonstrates best.” Kata isn’t just tradition, it is the DNA of judo itself. Watch as Europe’s most dedicated participants demonstrate Nage-no-kata, Katame-no-kata and more, with millimetre precision and decades of dedication. Beauty, harmony and the soul of judo live in Sarajevo.
JUNE: EXPERIENCE TAKES THE MAT
European Judo Championships Veterans
18-21 June | Bordeaux, France
Age? Just a number. Passion? Timeless. Bordeaux becomes the proving ground where experience meets determination, where veterans demonstrate that the love of judo doesn’t fade with years, it deepens. From masters in their 30s to legends in their 70s, this championship celebrates those who refuse to leave the tatami behind. Four days of inspiration. Countless stories of dedication. One message: judo is for life. The wine country welcomes warriors as Bordeaux awaits.
SUMMER: THE FUTURE ARRIVES
European Judo Championships Cadets
29 June – 2 July | Gran Canaria, Spain
Sun-soaked beaches, volcanic landscapes and the raw, unbridled energy of Europe’s youngest competitors. Gran Canaria hosts the cadets, who represent judo’s immediate future. Watch tomorrow’s stars today. See the techniques being perfected, the rivalries being formed, the champions being forged. Every great judoka’s journey includes a cadet championship. Whose name will we remember from Gran Canaria?
SEPTEMBER: RISING STARS SHINE BRIGHT
European Judo Championships Juniors
3-6 September | Podgorica, Montenegro
From the Adriatic coast comes the next generation’s moment in the spotlight. The juniors, stand on the threshold between youth and senior competition. This is their proving ground. Their declaration of intent. Their announcement to the judo world: we are ready. Montenegro, fresh from hosting senior Europeans in 2025, once again opens its doors to continental excellence. Expect fierce competition, breakthrough performances and the emergence of athletes who will dominate the next Olympic cycle. The future is being written in Podgorica.
OCTOBER: THE BRIDGE GENERATION
European Judo Championships U23
30 October – 1 November | Naples, Italy
As autumn colours Europe, Naples provides the perfect backdrop for the U23 championships, where junior champions transition to senior contenders, where Olympic dreams crystallise, where careers shift into high gear. Under the Italian sun, athletes will demonstrate why this age group represents judo’s most dynamic transition phase. Too experienced for juniors, too hungry for comfort at senior level, the U23s bring intensity that is impossible to ignore.
NOVEMBER: TEAM GLORY BECKONS
European Mixed Team Championships
7 November | Belgrade, Serbia
Individual brilliance meets collective strategy. Personal glory serves team ambition. Welcome to the mixed team format, where men and women unite, where coaching decisions are crucial, where a single score can change everything. Belgrade, a city synonymous with passionate judo support, hosts the pursuit of team European gold. Six athletes. One team. Infinite possibilities. In judo, we stand alone on the tatami but in Belgrade, we win together.
THE GRAND FINALE: CLUBS UNITE
ECC – Champions League
21 November | Paris, France
And then… Paris. The city of light. The city of love. The city that will likely to close our 2026 journey in unforgettable style. The finest club teams from across Europe and beyond converge for the ultimate club competition. From local dojos to Parisian glory. From club training sessions to continental championships. This is where judo’s community spirit shines the brightest. Paris celebrates everything European judo represents, starting with unity.
MORE? YES THERE IS!
Adapted Judo European Championships
TBC | Belgrade, Serbia
There is one more date we are keeping warm for you, though the exact weekend is still being finalised. Later in 2026, Belgrade will host the European Adapted Judo Championships, bringing together athletes who prove every single day that judo truly is for everyone. This isn’t a side event or an afterthought. It is a full-blown championship demonstrating incredible technique, fierce competition and the kind of determination that reminds us to appreciate life a little more. Belgrade’s already proving itself a judo hub in 2026 and hosting Adapted Judo shows the city’s commitment to inclusivity alongside elite competition. Watch this space for the official dates because you won’t want to miss this one.
YOUR JOURNEY. YOUR JUDO. YOUR 2026.
The tatami is set, the athletes are training, the cities are preparing and all that is missing is you. Mark your calendars. Book your travel. Prepare your passion. European judo in 2026 isn’t just a season, it is an experience you won’t want to miss.
Follow all EJU events at eju.net. Watch live online via JudoTV.com and get all behind-the-scenes updates across our social media channels: @europeanjudo and @eju_education.
Author: Szandra Szogedi