Tbilisi to Host the European Judo Championships in April 2026
For the Georgian capital, this is more than just another tournament — it marks the return of the continent’s top judo event after a 17-year absence, and reaffirms Tbilisi’s standing as one of the world’s premier judo venues.
From April 23 to 26, 2026, Tbilisi will host the European Judo Championships. The agreement was signed by Georgia’s Minister of Sport Shalva Gogoladze, European Judo Union President Laszlo Toth, and Georgia Judo Federation President Levan Nozadze. According to Gogoladze, the country is fully prepared to host the tournament at the highest level, adding that an event of this magnitude will not only advance the development of sport in Georgia, but also draw international attention to the country as a travel destination.
International interest in Tbilisi as a judo hub has never been stronger. At the opening ceremony of the March 2026 Grand Slam, World Judo Federation President Marius Vizer announced that Tbilisi will host the World Judo Championships for the first time — in 2029. He also confirmed that an agreement to extend the Tbilisi Grand Slam for a further four years is set to be signed in the near future. The April European Championships are thus part of a broader long-term vision: Tbilisi is becoming a permanent home for world judo.
The groundwork has been laid carefully. In March 2026, the city successfully hosted a Grand Slam stage that brought together more than 380 athletes from 51 countries — a full-scale rehearsal ahead of the April championship, and further proof that Georgia delivers world-class judo events.
The continental championship returns to Georgia after 17 years — the country last hosted the European Championships in 2009. That edition was considered a great success, and Tbilisi now welcomes it back as an established international arena.
Behind this lies a deep national tradition. Georgia has produced an extraordinary line of Olympic judo champions: Shota Chochishvili in 1972, Shota Khabareli in 1980, David Khakhaleishvili in 1992, Zurab Zviadauri in 2004, Irakli Tsirekidze in 2008, and Lasha Shavdatuashvili in 2012. Lasha Bekauri cemented his place in history as a two-time Olympic champion, claiming gold at the 2024 Paris Games in the final against Japan’s Sanshiro Murao. Georgia’s judokas have collectively earned 15 Olympic medals, five of them gold — a remarkable achievement for a nation of fewer than four million people.
The European Championships are traditionally one of the most prestigious events on the continental judo calendar. For the continent’s top competitors, the title represents not only a moment of glory but a vital step in preparation for the season’s bigger international tournaments. In April 2026, all roads in European judo lead to Tbilisi.
Further information about the tournament is available on the official website of the European Judo Union: www.eju.net