Here’s Where the IFSC World Cup Is Going in 2026
Next year will see Boulder, Lead, and Speed events in the United States, China, Chile and Europe
Jan Virt/IFSC
The 2026 IFSC World Cup schedule has just been released. The series of competition climbing events takes place every year at different locations. The inaugural World Cup was held in 1989, and only held competitions for Lead. It wasn’t until 1998 that Speed was added as a discipline, perhaps surprisingly, one year before Boulder.
The World Cup circuit in 2026 will kick off in China in early May, with the dates and locations to be confirmed in mid-November. China is also hosting a Speed event in September, with more details expected later. After China, the series goes on a European tour, stopping in Switzerland, Spain, Czechia, Austria, Poland, France, and Slovenia. The circuit then heads to the Americas, first in Utah and then in Chile.
Para Climbing World Cups will be held in Utah in May, Austria in June, and France in August. The Youth Climbing World Championships will be held in Arco, Italy in July. At the 2026 World Cup, Speed climbing will follow a four-lane format that premiered at the World Games in Chengdu, China in August of 2025. This new format will be seen for the first time on the Climbing World Cup circuit in Krakow, Poland. A detailed 2026 World Cup programme can be found below. Stay tuned, as more events and details emerge.
2026 World Cup Schedule
- May 15 to 16: Para Climbing World Cup in Salt Lake City, USA – Lead
- May 22 to 24: Climbing World Cup in Bern, Switzerland – Boulder
- May 28 to 31 May: Climbing World Cup in Madrid, Spain – Boulder, Speed
- June 4 to 7: Climbing World Cup in Prague, Czechia – Boulder, Lead
- June 15 to 16: Para Climbing World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria – Lead
- June 17 to 21: Climbing World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria – Boulder, Lead
- July 3 to 5: Climbing World Cup in Krakow, Poland – Speed
- July 10 to 12: Climbing World Cup in Chamonix, France – Lead, Speed
- July 18 to 25: Youth Climbing World Championships in Arco, Italy – Boulder, Lead, Speed
- August 28 to 29: Para Climbing World Cup in Laval, France – Lead
- September 4 to 5: Climbing World Cup in Koper, Slovenia – Lead
- October 16 to 18: Climbing World Cup in Salt Lake City, USA – Boulder
- October 23 to 25: Climbing World Cup in Santiago, Chile – Lead, Speed
