2026 WKF Calender is online

The World Karate Federation (WKF) has officially released its 2026 international competition calendar, marking one of the most dynamic and global seasons yet for competitive karate. The full schedule spans more than 40 elite events worldwide, bringing together top athletes from all continents and offering a full year of kata and kumite action across ages and levels.

Season Opener: Karate1 Series A in Tbilisi

The 2026 season opens in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, with the Karate1 Series A event taking place from January 9–11, 2026. The city will host this event two times in a row.

This tournament is the first major stop of the year and offers valuable ranking points for athletes looking to start their season strongly on the WKF circuit.

What’s on the 2026 WKF Calendar

Following the Tbilisi opener, the internationally spaced calendar includes a mix of elite World Tour events, continental championships, youth competitions, and multisport events that elevate karate’s global presence:

Major Series & Leagues

K1 Premier League: One of the biggest karate events will start in Istanbul before moving to Rome, Hangzhou, and Rabat.
K1 Youth League – Youth athletes have several opportunities to compete internationally, including a February event in Fujairah (UAE). This year, the event will have six stops, with the first being held in Africa. Zimbabwe will host the event for the first time ever.
Karate1 Series A events spread throughout the season deepen competitive opportunities beyond the Premier League circuit.

Continental Championships

Karate’s top continental competitions are headliners of the season:

EKF Senior Championships: 20-24 May in Frankfurt, Germany.
PKF Senior Championships — 28-31 May in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
AKF Senior Championships — 19-21 June in Bali, Indonesia.
Other continental events are scheduled across Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Pan-America, offering vital ranking points and continental titles.

Season Final: 2nd Karate World Cup (Team Competition)

The calendar culminates with the much-anticipated WKF Karate World Cup in Hangzhou, China from November 20–22, 2026, where the world’s best vie for the ultimate titles of the season.