Karate World Cup 2026 in Hangzhou, 20–22 November: 80 national teams, the full schedule in China, Paris and New York times, and how to watch.
20 – 22 November 2026 · Hangzhou
Karate World Cup - National Team Championships - Hangzhou 2026
14 October 2026
WKF World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships, Bielsko-Biała 2026
Cadet Female Kata
The individual kumite day of the Glasgow Elite Championships produced 48 champions: 22 for England, four senior titles among Scotland’s 13 golds, and five Cypriot victories in the youngest age groups.
On 1 November, IOC President Kirsty Coventry joined karate's Focus Day at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. A team kata and kumite demonstration by Senegal's national team, talks with young medallists and children from SOS Children's Villages Senegal marked her visit.
The biopic of Sandra Sánchez opened in Spanish cinemas on 30 October. In Madrid, WKF President Antonio Espinós attended the premiere and praised the champion and her coach Jesús del Moral as "true ambassadors" of karate.
Meeting on 26 October, Japan's Parliamentary Karate Support League elected Masahiko Shibayama as its president and put karate's Olympic prospects for Brisbane 2032 at the centre of its discussions. The Japan Karate Federation also outlined two major events in Tokyo in 2027 and 2028.
Cameras around the tatami and AI that spots attacks and step-outs: the World Karate Federation will trial a new refereeing support tool in December at the Karate One Youth League in Venice. Referees keep the final say.
Eight years after its first Youth Olympic medals in Buenos Aires, karate returns to the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar as an engagement sport. Its big day is Sunday 1 November, a Karate Focus Day on the Corniche led by Douglas Brose.
Mexico will host the XV WKF World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships in Guadalajara in 2028. The WKF flag was handed over in Bielsko-Biała.
The 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh move to 28 March–8 April 2027. Karate keeps 13 events: kata and kumite for men and women.
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