Podgorica rides the wave: European judo returns to Montenegro

It has been just over ten months since the lights went out on the 2025 Senior European Judo Championships in Podgorica. Back then, many wondered if the Montenegrin capital was ready for an event of that size and pressure. The answer came quickly on and off the tatami: smooth organisation, intense contests, and later the official honour of being named Best EJU Event of the Year 2025.

From underdog host to award-winning stage, Podgorica has changed the conversation in European judo.

For Montenegro, that championship was never meant to be a one-off highlight. It marked the start of a longer project to keep high-level judo in the country and give European athletes another strong venue. The next big chapter is already confirmed: in September 2026, Podgorica will welcome the Junior European Championships, putting the spotlight on the continent’s rising stars.

Before that, attention turns to this weekend and the Podgorica Senior European Cup. On 7–8 March, 277 judoka from 26 nations will step onto the mats, turning the city once again into a busy hub of European judo. For athletes on the European circuit, the event is a valuable chance to test themselves, gain experience and measure their level against a deep international field.

Montenegrin Judo Federation President Jovica Rečević highlights how much the 2025 championships changed the scene at home. Hosting the seniors boosted motivation among local judoka, improved organisational skills and pushed the sport into the national spotlight. All of that now feeds directly into preparations for the upcoming junior continental showpiece.

With hundreds of fighters arriving and another major championship already on the horizon, Podgorica remains firmly in the centre of Europe’s judo story. Fans who cannot make it to Montenegro can still follow every exchange and every ippon live on JudoTV.com.

Source: EJU_News