The World Karate Federation (WKF) has released its official sports calendar for the year 2026.
This season will be marked by:
✔️ A very intense competitive year
With more than 40 international events, including:
- K1 Series A
- K1 Premier League
- K1 Youth League
- Continental Championships (Europe, Asia, Africa, Pan-America, Oceania)
- Youth and University (FISU) Championships
- The WKF Karate World Cup in November (Hangzhou, China)
✔️ Events spread throughout the entire year
Competitions start on January 9th and end on December 13th, providing a full and continuous season with very few breaks.
✔️ Major highlights of the 2026 season
- EKF Senior Championships – 21–24 May, Frankfurt (Germany)
- PKF Senior Championships – 28–31 May, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
- OKF Senior Championships – May/June in Auckland (New Zealand)
- AKF Senior Championships – 16–21 June, Bali (Indonesia)
- Commonwealth Championships – 5–6 November, Glasgow (Scotland)
- WKF Karate World Cup – 20–22 November, Hangzhou (China)
✔️ Important notes
- Some dates are still to be confirmed (highlighted in red).
- For qualification to the Karate World Cup, continental championships must take place at least 30 days before the World Cup, no later than October 20th, 2026.
📅 2026 WKF Events Table
| Month | Dates | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9–11 | K1 – Series A | Tbilisi (Georgia) |
| January | 23–25 | K1 – Premier League | Istanbul (Türkiye) |
| February | 6–8 | EKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships | Limassol (Cyprus) |
| February | 12–15 | K1 – Youth League + Referee Course | Fujairah (UAE) |
| March | 13–15 | K1 – Premier League | Rome (Italy) |
| March | 27–29 | K1 – Youth League | Harare (Zimbabwe) |
| April | 10–12 | K1 – Premier League | City TBC (China) |
| April | 24–26 | K1 – Series A | A Coruña (Spain) |
| May | 14–17 | K1 – Youth League | Manila (Philippines) |
| May | 21–24 | EKF Senior Championships | Frankfurt (Germany) |
| May | 28–31 | PKF Senior Championships | Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) |
| May/June | — | OKF Senior Championships | Auckland (New Zealand) |
| June | 12–14 | K1 – Premier League | Rabat (Morocco) |
| June | 16–21 | FISU WUC Combat Sports | Brasilia (Brazil) |
| June | 16–21 | Mediterranean Championships | Alexandria (Egypt) |
| June | 16–21 | AKF Senior Championships | Bali (Indonesia) |
| June/July | 29–1 | WKF Youth Camp | Poreč (Croatia) |
| July | 2–5 | K1 – Youth League | Poreč (Croatia) |
| July | 16–19 | K1 – Series A | Guadalajara (Mexico) |
| August | 1–3 | PKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships | To be confirmed |
| September | 1–3 | Mediterranean Games (Karate competition) | Taranto (Italy) |
| September | 7–12 | UFAK Championships | Antananarivo (Madagascar) |
| September | 8–11 | AKF Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships | Amman (Jordan) |
| September | 17–20 | K1 – Youth League | Guadalajara (Mexico) |
| September | 20–23 | Asian Games (Karate competition) | Aichi–Nagoya (Japan) |
| October | 1–3 | K1 – Series A | Salzburg (Austria) |
| October | 14–18 | World Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships | Bielsko-Biała (Poland) |
| Oct/Nov | 31–5 | Youth Olympic Games (karate dates TBC) | Dakar (Senegal) |
| November | 5–6 | Commonwealth Championships | Glasgow (Scotland) |
| November | 20–22 | WKF Karate World Cup | Hangzhou (China) |
| December | 10–13 | K1 – Youth League | Venice (Italy) |