During the inaugural Lausanne Grand Slam 2026, the International Judo Federation and Swiss Judo signed a contract for Switzerland to host the 2028 World Judo Championships.
Switzerland will host an edition of particular importance. Held in an Olympic year, only weeks before the LA 2028 Olympic Games, the championships will be an important part of the Olympic qualification process.
The choice of Lausanne adds a powerful symbolic dimension. As the Olympic Capital and home to the International Olympic Committee, the city will welcome the international judo family at a decisive point in the sporting calendar.
Swiss Judo Federation President Sergei Aschwanden said, “The confidence placed in Switzerland by the IJF is both an honour and a responsibility. After the Grand Slams of 2026 and 2027, the 2028 World Championships will allow us to develop judo in all its aspects: sporting excellence, participation, inclusion and inspiration for a new generation of athletes. We want this event to create a lasting legacy for Lausanne, the canton of Vaud and Swiss judo as a whole.”
With the contract signed, the road to the 2028 World Judo Championships has officially begun. In two years, the world’s best judoka will meet in Switzerland, with world titles at stake and the Olympic Games just around the corner.
