A New Chapter Begins in Gran Canaria

The 2026 European Cadet Championships are heading to Gran Canaria from 29 June to 2 July, and with them comes another opportunity for the next generation of stars to take their first steps into the spotlight.

You’ve already read about some of the cadet European champions who went on to conquer the sport’s biggest stages. The likes of world champions, Olympic medallists, and household names all started somewhere, and for many of them, it started right here, at a Cadet European Championships.

Now, the question is simple: who will write the next chapter?

First, let’s get some context.

The history of this event stretches back more than six decades. The first Cadet European Championships were held in Essen, Germany, in 1962, where Dutch judoka Jan Snijders and French athletes Jacques Noris and Maymat Coiffier became the competition’s inaugural champions. At the time, only three titles were contested.

The event has evolved dramatically over the years. Between 1962 and 1978, only boys competed. Then came a long pause before the championships returned in 2000 in Oradea, Romania, this time welcoming both male and female athletes. As a result, Gran Canaria will host the 42nd men’s and 25th women’s Cadet European Championships.

What was once a relatively modest competition has become one of the largest events on the European calendar, and a launch pad for senior success. Participation continues to rise, with the current record set in 2024 when 511 judoka from 44 nations gathered in Bulgaria to contest continental honours.

Today, the importance of the cadet category has never been greater. Since the turn of the century, youth judo has become a major focus of international development. The first Cadet World Championships were held in Budapest in 2009, while Youth Olympic Games appearances in Singapore, Nanjing and Buenos Aires helped establish the category as a key stage in the athlete pathway.

The year 2026 will be especially significant. Following Gran Canaria, attention will turn to the Cadet World Championships in Guayaquil in August before the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar in October.

Spanish flair

For many athletes, the journey toward those milestones begins on the tatami in Spain.

Remarkably, Spain will host the Cadet European Championships for the very first time. Germany remains the most frequent organiser with four editions, while Hungary has hosted three and several other nations have welcomed the continent’s best young judoka on multiple occasions.

The home crowd will be hoping for more success after Spain claimed a bronze medal at last year’s championships through Aiora Martin Carriches. Already a Cadet World and European Champion in 2024, Martin Carriches demonstrated exactly what is possible when talent, opportunity and ambition align.

History also reminds us just how competitive this stage can be.

Russia remains the most successful nation in championship history, leading both the all-time medal and gold medal standings. Azerbaijan, Germany and France have also established themselves among the dominant forces over the decades.

On an individual level, few athletes have left a greater mark than Mikhail Igolnikov, who achieved an extraordinary three consecutive Cadet European titles between 2011 and 2013. Only five judoka have managed to win the championship twice, showing just how difficult it is to stay at the top at any level of judo.

The team competition has added another exciting dimension to the championships. Introduced in 2017 and evolving into the mixed team format in 2018, it has become one of the highlights of the event. France currently leads the all-time mixed team standings, ahead of Georgia and Russia, while Spain will be looking to secure its first team podium finish on home soil.

Follow full coverage of the upcoming championships on EJU.net or through the EJU social media channels.

All-Time Individual Cadet Medal Table

All-Time Team Medal Table

Author: Grace Goulding

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