Competitions

The 2026 Paddle Europe Junior & U23 Sprint Championships will take place from 23 to 26 July 2026 in Szeged, bringing together Europe’s top young canoe sprint athletes in the Junior and Under 23 categories.

Held at the renowned Maty-ér regatta course, one of the most established sprint venues in the world, the championships will provide ideal racing conditions for high-performance competition. Athletes will compete in a structured, lane-based format across standard sprint distances, where speed, technique, and race execution are critical.

As one of the key events in the development pathway of European canoe sprint, the championships offer a crucial platform for emerging athletes to gain international experience and progress towards senior elite level. The event will showcase the future of the sport, with strong participation from national teams across Europe.

Organised under the auspices of Paddle Europe and the Hungarian Canoe Federation, the championships aim to deliver a high-quality competition, combining sporting excellence with a long-standing tradition of international canoe sprint events in Szeged.