ICF expands 2026 event schedule with eight World Cup allocations

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has significantly enhanced its major event schedule for 2026 by confirming the addition of eight World Cup competitions. Following an online vote, the ICF Board of Directors officially approved the venues and dates for World Cups across five disciplines: Canoe Marathon, Canoe Freestyle, Canoe Ocean Racing, Stand Up Paddling (SUP), and Wildwater Canoeing. Eight distinct countries have been designated as hosts, with China, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Slovakia preparing to host top-tier paddlesport athletes.

Canoe Marathon

China is slated to host an ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup in 2026. The city of Bazhong, situated in the northeastern Sichuan province, will welcome competitors from May 23 to 24.

Wildwater Canoeing

Three Wildwater Canoeing World Cups have been assigned, with Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia each receiving an event. The initial competition will unfold in Dunaremete, Hungary, from June 5 to 7. Just one week later, Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is scheduled to host a Wildwater Canoeing World Cup on June 13 and 14. The third event in this series will then take place in Mezzana, Italy, featuring Wildwater Canoeing races from June 25 to 28.

Canoe Freestyle

June will also feature consecutive ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cups, promising an intense period of competition. This demanding two-week stretch of Canoe Freestyle will see Krakow, Poland, host from June 15 to 21, immediately followed by Millau, France, from June 22 to 27. Originally, Sort, Spain, had been designated to host an ICF Canoe Freestyle World Cup next June. However, organizers opted to prioritize their preparations for the 2027 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships and to further develop Sort as a future international Freestyle Hub.

Canoe Ocean Racing

Following the successful ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships held in Madeira last year, the Portuguese island...

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