Idman.biz
Baku will not host the tournament included in the "Grand Slam" series in judo in 2026.
Idman.biz reports that the International Judo Federation (IJF) has approved the competition calendar for next year. The calendar includes world championships, continental championships and other prestigious tournaments.
According to the calendar, the "Grand Slam" stage, which has become a tradition, will not be held in Baku in 2026. The reason for this is the World Judo Championship, which will be held in the capital of Azerbaijan from October 4 to 11 that year.
Let us remind you that in 2025, the "Grand Slam" tournament in Baku took place on February 14–16.
In 2026, "Grand Slam" tournaments will be held in Paris (France), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Tbilisi (Georgia), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Astana (Kazakhstan), Ulan Bator (Mongolia), Budapest (Hungary), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Tokyo (Japan).
The stage to be held in Ulan Bator on June 19–21 will be the first tournament of the current Olympic cycle, which provides license points for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles. The most important race of the year in terms of ranking points will be the World Championship to be held in Baku, as mentioned above.
The IJF website says this about it:
"One of the main events of the year will undoubtedly be the "Grand Slam" to be held in Ulan Bator. This tournament is the first qualifying competition for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. From this moment on, every competition held within the framework of the "World Judo Tour" will become even more important, as athletes will be on their way to the Olympic qualifying stage. Tension will increase even more - especially at the World Championships in Baku, where world titles and major ranking points will be fought for."
Teymur Tushiyev
