Riga Set to Launch Europe’s First Standalone Ne-Waza Judo Championships

Riga will host a landmark moment for European judo in summer 2026. The European Judo Union has confirmed the first standalone Ne-Waza European Judo Championships, bringing the ground phase of the sport into full focus.

The inaugural edition is scheduled for 29 to 30 August 2026 at the BT1 International Expo Centre in Riga, Latvia. It marks the first time a separate European Championship will be dedicated entirely to ne-waza, a part of judo that athletes spend countless hours developing on the tatami.

In regular competition, big throws often capture attention first. But anyone close to judo understands how much of the sport’s intelligence, control and toughness appears once the contest goes to the ground. This new championship is a clear sign that ne-waza is not being treated as a secondary skill, but as a discipline worthy of its own continental stage.

European Judo Union President Dr. László Tóth described the event as a historic step and an exciting new chapter for the sport. He underlined that ne-waza has always been an essential component of judo, one that calls for technical precision, strategic thinking, resilience and creativity.

That message matters. By creating a dedicated championship, the EJU is highlighting the full range of what judo can be and opening new competitive opportunities at continental level. It is also a statement about inclusion inside the sport’s own structure: different strengths, styles and tactical identities all have their place.

Ground work is getting its own European spotlight.

Latvia will be at the center of that milestone. Latvian Judo Federation President Vsevolods Zelonijs called the launch a moment of shared history and stressed the importance of ne-waza within Kodokan Judo. He said the new event strengthens and celebrates one of the sport’s fundamental elements.

The championship will include cadet, junior and senior athletes competing for European titles in Ne-Waza Judo. That multi-age format gives the event a broad reach from rising talents to established competitors, and it should help shape the identity of this new competition from its very first edition.

Europe’s cadet, junior and senior athletes will all be part of the first edition.

For European judo, this is more than a date on the calendar. It is recognition for a side of the sport that demands patience, timing and problem-solving under pressure. The throws may still light up highlight reels, but in Riga, the ground battle will be the main event.

More practical event information is expected to follow, but the headline is already clear: in August 2026, European judo will make history in Latvia.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union