Senior Europeans Tbilisi 2026 - Did You Know?

As the countdown to the Senior European Judo Championships 2026 gathers pace, all eyes turn to Tbilisi. Returning to the Georgian capital after 17 years, this edition feels like a true homecoming, rich in history, identity and expectation. Here is everything you need to know, from the key facts to the standout figures, ahead of the tournament.

Seven Olympic champions are listed to compete

According to the latest entry list, 23 world champions are set to head to Tbilisi

A total of 36 European champions are entered across the 14 weight categories

Gold Collectors

Here are the most decorated title holders among the participants entered for the Tbilisi European Championships.

Title Holders

According to the most up-to-date entry list, title defences could take place in nine weight categories at this year’s European Championships, with all athletes arriving as reigning European champions.

Participations

Georgia will host the European Judo Union’s flagship event, the Senior European Championships, for the second time. The last occasion was in 2009, when Tbilisi welcomed 260 judoka from 39 countries. In 2026, the numbers have grown significantly, with 410 athletes from 46 nations currently entered.

75 Years

The first European Judo Championships took place 75 years ago, in 1951, in Paris, the City of Light, where French athletes claimed victory in all five categories. Over the decades, the event has grown in stature, evolving into one of the most prestigious competitions in the global sporting calendar.

For two decades, the European Championships were largely dominated by Western European nations. It was not until 1970 that a city from the communist bloc hosted the event, when East Berlin staged the tournament. Four years later, in Genoa, Italy, the first European Championships for women were introduced. Since 1987, men and women have competed together at the same event. The 2026 edition will mark the 75th men’s and 52nd women’s European Championships.

All-Time Ranking

France sits firmly at the top of the all-time medal table with 249 gold, 169 silver and 259 bronze medals. The Netherlands (105 gold, 87 silver, 168 bronze) and Germany (96 gold, 115 silver, 281 bronze) complete the podium.

Georgia at the Europeans

Since gaining independence in 1991, Georgia has risen rapidly through the ranks and now sits in 8th position, with 45 gold, 42 silver and 56 bronze medals.

At last year’s senior European Championships in Podgorica, Georgia struck gold in two weight categories, in the -60kg (Giorgi Sardalashvili) and -100kg (Ilia Sulamanidze), as well as in the mixed team event. They also secured two silver medals through Tato Grigalashvili (-81kg) and Eteri Liparteliani (-57kg). All four individual medallists are set to compete again this year.

Top Performance of 2025

The most successful delegation at the 2025 European Championships was the Russian team, competing under the International Judo Federation flag, with a haul of three gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Danil Lavrentev (-73kg), Timur Arbuzov (-81kg) and Inal Tasoev (+100kg) claimed European titles. Ayub Bliev (-60kg), Murad Chopanov (-66kg) and Valeriy Endovitskiy (+100kg) took silver, while Elis Startseva (+78kg) and the mixed team secured bronze medals.

Disclaimer: All statistics and figures are based on the official entry list as of 7 April 2026 and may be subject to change.

Author: EJU Media

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