Sarajevo turns into a home for Europe’s next judo wave at Hopes 2026

Sarajevo is feeling loud in the best way this weekend: the Sarajevo Judo Hopes 2026 has begun, and the city’s Arena Hills is packed with the kind of energy only youth sport can bring. As part of the European Judo Tour and organised by the Judo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the event is a clear snapshot of where European judo is heading next.

The numbers alone show how big this stage is. A total of 574 young judoka from 21 nations have arrived for the two-day tournament. Across the U14 and U16 categories, 366 boys and 208 girls are stepping onto the tatami, chasing that first real international momentum.

The host nation made sure the opening day had a local heartbeat. With 112 athletes representing Bosnia and Herzegovina, the report describes an impressive start that highlighted both quality and confidence. For a young team in front of a home crowd, that kind of beginning matters—it sets a tone for the whole weekend.

The future of European judo is getting real mat time in Sarajevo.

The opening ceremony featured speeches from Ognjen Pavlović, President of the Judo Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Branislav Crnogorac, Development Director of the European Judo Union. The message was simple: welcome, thank you, and keep building events that give youth athletes a serious platform.

Before the competition even kicked off, there was an extra learning boost through a Kodokan technical seminar. It was led by Kodokan expert and three-time world champion Misato Nakamura, with support from European star Aleksandar Kukolj and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Larisa Cerić. Nakamura and Kukolj were also given commemorative gifts in recognition of their role in helping judo develop locally.

Action resumes on Sunday from 09:00 with preliminary rounds continuing, and fans can follow the tournament live online.

Source: EJU_News