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Montemor-o-Velho is preparing to welcome Europe’s top athletes as the countdown begins for the 2026 Paddle Europe Canoe Sprint, Paracanoe and Masters Championships, taking place from 11 to 14 June 2026 in Portugal.

The event will bring together the European elite of Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe, while also marking a historic milestone with the integration of the Masters European Championships into the official competition schedule for the first time. Although Masters athletes will compete for separate European titles, rankings and medal tables, all categories will share the same international stage in an extensive four-day programme of competition.

Organised under the Canoe Portugal brand and led by the Portuguese Canoe Federation, the championships are expected to gather more than 600 athletes from over 35 countries, making Montemor-o-Velho one of the major centres of European canoeing this season.

The championships will also represent the first European ranking competition on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, giving additional importance to the performances in Portugal as athletes and national teams begin the new Olympic cycle.

The event will be the second Paddle Europe Championship of the 2026 season, taking place simultaneously with the 2026 Paddle Europe Freestyle Championships in Lieksa, Finland.

For Portugal, the return of a major European sprint championship carries special significance. Montemor-o-Velho previously hosted the 2013 European Canoe Sprint Championships and has since established itself as one of World`s premier sprint venues.

The President of the Portuguese Canoe Federation highlighted both the pride and responsibility of hosting the event once again:

“It is a great honour for Portugal and for the Portuguese Canoe Federation to once again organise a European sprint championship after 2013. Despite the severe storms that recently affected the High Performance Centre and surrounding infrastructure, we are working with determination to fully restore the venue in time for the championships. We will do everything possible to deliver a memorable event for all athletes, teams and spectators.”

With one month remaining, preparations continue at full speed as Montemor-o-Velho gets ready to welcome one of the largest and most important canoe events in Europe in 2026.