Rome 2027 Becomes a Landmark Moment for Italy’s Young Judo Future

Italy’s judo movement already has one eye on the European Judo Championships Cadets Gran Canaria 2026 and another on an even bigger milestone ahead. In 2027, Rome will host the Cadet European Championships for the first time ever on Italian soil, giving the country a major role in the next chapter of European youth judo.

That makes Gran Canaria more than a competition for the Italian delegation. It is also a chance to study how a top-level Cadet European Championships is delivered, from organisation to standards expected at the highest European level. With Rome next in line, every detail matters.

Italy’s return as a host nation has been building step by step. The recent path began with the European Adapted Judo Championships in Conegliano in 2025 and continues with the Under 23 European Championships in Naples this year. The 2027 cadet event will become the third straight European Championship entrusted to Italy, underlining the country’s growing presence on the continental calendar.

There is also strong sporting weight behind that trust. Italy stands sixth in the all-time Cadet European Championships individual medal table, a sign of how seriously the country has treated youth development over the years. The upcoming edition in Rome is therefore not just about hosting; it reflects a deeper investment in the next generation.

Giuseppe Matera, President of the FIJLKAM Judo Sector, described the event as a moment of pride for Italian Judo and thanked the European Judo Union for its confidence in the federation. He also pointed to the daily work of clubs, coaches and technical staff as the foundation behind this recognition.

His message was clear: the championship carries meaning beyond logistics. For Italian Judo, it is also a public acknowledgment of the system that supports cadet athletes from grassroots level upward and helps them reach the European and world stages.

Rome 2027 will be the first Cadet European Championships held in Italy.

Alessandro Comi, EJU Sport Director and FIJLKAM Judo Sector International Relations Officer, framed the decision as another milestone in Italy’s renewed international role. He highlighted the close cooperation between FIJLKAM and the European Judo Union, stressing that events like this help both competition and wider judo development across Europe.

There is added emotional value in the location too. Bringing a European Championship back to Rome almost three decades after the 1999 Junior European Championships gives the occasion extra depth. The FIJLKAM Olympic Centre remains an important home for Italian Judo, with a long connection to major competition through the historic Trofeo Città di Roma.

The timing may make summer 2027 even more memorable for young athletes. Italy is also set to host the European Youth Olympic Festival in Lignano Sabbiadoro only weeks later, creating a rare chance for Europe’s rising judoka to experience two major youth events in one country in a single summer.

For now, the immediate focus stays on Gran Canaria 2026, where Europe’s next generation is about to take the spotlight. But once that tournament closes, the road to Rome will feel very real.

For Italy, Gran Canaria is also part of the preparation for hosting.

Rome 2027 is shaping up as more than a date on the calendar. It is a statement about trust, continuity and the belief that youth judo deserves a stage worthy of its ambition.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union