Spain, specifically, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has officially been announced as the host city for the 2026 European Judo Championships Cadets. The formal flag handover ceremony took place this afternoon in Skopje, bringing the historic 2025 edition to a symbolic close. Representing the Royal Spanish Judo Federation, Mr Miguel Angel Bisquerra, proudly accepted the EJU flag, marking the transition to next year’s host nation and setting the stage for another exciting chapter in European cadet judo.
Following the ceremony, Mr Angel Bisquerra shared the importance of this moment.
“Well, it’s truly a great honour to be here today representing our president, Juan Carlos Barcos, who unfortunately could not attend. As for next year’s event, Gran Canaria has everything to offer. Sport is part of life there, it’s energy, it’s atmosphere, it’s passion. It’s going to be an incredible experience. I’m certain everyone will enjoy the Canary Islands immensely.
“The last time Spain hosted a European Championship was quite some time ago, so this is a very significant moment for the Royal Spanish Judo Federation. While we regularly organise European Cups at cadet, junior, and senior levels, it has been years since we hosted a full European Championship. We take real pride in organising events like this. It’s something we genuinely enjoy, the preparation, the attention to detail, and most of all, the opportunity to welcome athletes and delegations from across Europe to our country, and in this case, to our island.”
Images: Carlos Ferreira / Gabi Juan
Author: Szandra Szogedi