Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, has been chosen to be the venue for next year's World Judo Championships, which will take place from 4 to 11 October, 2026.
Following the 2025 edition held in Budapest, Hungary, another major judo city will now take centre stage. Azerbaijan, a nation renowned for producing world-class judoka such as Olympic Champions Hidayat Heydarov and Zelym Kotsoiev, will once again become the capital of world judo in 2026.
The last time Baku hosted the event was in 2018, a tournament still remembered for its exceptional atmosphere and top-level performances.
The World Championships stand as the flagship event of the International Judo Federation. They represent the pinnacle of the judo season, offering athletes the chance to earn valuable world ranking points, to test themselves against the very best and secure key positions on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Blog posts
Abe or Takeoka for the 2026 World's?
Who will be selected for the 2026 World's: Abe or Takeoka?
Japan's Haruka Kaju is seen as a newaza specialist who has one killer technique and it seems to be all she does. But is that really true? Let's take a closer look at Kaju's repertoire of techniques.
An overview of all the winners from all the categories fought on Day 2.