Competitions

Szeged, Hungary – The 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup season gets underway this weekend in Szeged, one of the sport’s most iconic venues, bringing together a global field that is once again heavily shaped by European strength and depth.

With competition running through Sunday, the opening World Cup is not only an early-season benchmark but also a key step in the long road toward qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, as results contribute to the international ranking system that will influence Olympic quotas.

Ljubljana-Tacen will host the 2028 Paddle Europe Slalom Championships in the month of April, bringing the continent’s top athletes to one of Europe’s most beautiful venues.

Organised by Paddle Europe and the Slovenian Canoe Federation, the event continues Tacen’s long-standing role at the heart of international canoe slalom.

Taking place at a key moment in the Olympic cycle, the championships will serve as the final continental opportunity for qualification to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

A separate Kayak Cross qualification event will also be staged, adding further significance to the competition week.

The 2026 Paddle Europe Wildwater Cup is underway, with the first three stages in Fulda, Grandtully and Banja Luka already delivering intense and closely contested racing. Early leaders have emerged in the senior men’s field, but the overall standings remain wide open. With strong performances across multiple nations and disciplines, the fight for the titles is far from decided.

Spain will host the 2028 European Canoe Sprint Championships at the Embalse de Trasona, marking the return of a major continental event to the country after more than 15 years. Organised by Paddle Europe in partnership with the Real Federación Española de Piragüismo, the championships will bring together over 30 nations at one of Europe’s most established and naturally distinctive venues, combining proven organisational expertise, strong local engagement, and ongoing infrastructure improvements to deliver a world-class competition.