Check the new WJT calendar:
2026 World Judo Tour Calendar
As tradition dictates, the World Judo Tour will open in style with the world-famous Paris Grand Slam, scheduled for 7th and 8th February. The event, hosted in the iconic Accor Arena, will once again set the tone for a year of extraordinary performances, passion and spirit.
Grand Slams Around the World
In addition to Paris, eight further grand slam events will feature on the 2026 calendar: Tashkent, Tbilisi, Dushanbe, Astana, Ulaanbaatar, Budapest, Abu Dhabi, and Tokyo. Each will offer a unique atmosphere and fierce competition as the best judoka on the planet battle for vital points and prestige. Four grand prix events, in Linz, Lima, Qingdao and Zagreb, will also return, offering another opportunity for athletes to test themselves on the international stage and climb the world rankings.
A Turning Point in Mongolia
One of the major highlights of the year, undoubtedly, will be the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam, which will mark the first qualifying event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. From this point onwards, every competition on the World Judo Tour will take on even greater significance, as athletes begin their journeys toward Olympic qualification. The stakes will rise further at the Baku World Championships, where world titles and crucial ranking points will be on the line.
World Championships for Every Generation
Alongside the elite circuit, 2026 will see a full programme of age-category world championships, continuing to showcase the depth and dynamism of judo’s next generation. The world cadet championships will take place in Guayaquil, Ecuador, from 20th to 23rd August, gathering the sport’s brightest young talents. The world junior championships will then follow in Amman, Jordan, from 22nd to 25th October, offering a glimpse of the future stars of the sport. Young judoka will also have another highlight event on their horizon: the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for 1st to 3rd November in the Senegalese capital, a celebration of sport, diversity and youthful ambition.
Africa at the Heart of Global Judo
Africa will also take centre stage earlier in the season with the 2026 World Judo Continental Team Championships for Peace, to be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Officially confirmed last week, this will be a world-first event. The tournament symbolises the IJF’s ongoing commitment to using judo as a force for peace, inclusion and international friendship.
Beyond the WJT and world championships, 2026 will be enriched by numerous continental opens, organised under the patronage of the continental unions. These tournaments provide essential opportunities for athletes to gain world ranking points and advance towards Olympic qualification.
The season will also feature the world veteran and kata championships, which continue to attract growing participation and enthusiasm each year, proving that the judo spirit transcends generations. With events taking place on every continent, 2026 is set to be an exceptional year that celebrates the global unity of judo, a sport that combines tradition, respect and competition at the highest level.
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