2026 World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam

HAPPENING 17–25 October 2026 | Rotterdam will host the 54th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships at Rotterdam Ahoy. The tournament brings the world’s leading artistic gymnasts to the city and forms part of the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Rotterdam confirmed as host of 2026 world gymnastics championships

Rotterdam will host the 54th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships from 17 to 25 October 2026. The International Gymnastics Federation lists the event as approved, with Rotterdam Ahoy named as the venue.

The championships return to Rotterdam for the first time since 2010 and for the third time overall, after earlier editions in 1987 and 2010. Over nine days, the best male and female artistic gymnasts will compete for medals in team, all-around, and apparatus events.

The event also has Olympic importance. Under the LA28 artistic gymnastics qualification system, the three highest-ranked eligible national Olympic committees in the 2026 team finals will secure team quota places for the Games. Further qualification routes continue through the 2027 World Championships, the 2028 Apparatus World Cup Series, and continental events.

Rotterdam Ahoy to serve as central venue

Rotterdam Ahoy will host the championships from 17 to 25 October 2026. The venue previously staged the 2010 World Championships and has hosted major international events including the Eurovision Song Contest.

The official programme begins with men’s and women’s qualification rounds across the first three days. The men’s team final is scheduled for 20 October and the women’s team final for 21 October. The all-around finals follow on 22 and 23 October, before the championships close with apparatus finals on 24 and 25 October.

Key dates

17 to 19 October: qualification rounds
20 October: men’s team final
21 October: women’s team final
22 to 23 October: all-around finals
24 to 25 October: apparatus finals

Tickets, programme and practical information

Ticket sales have opened through the official Rotterdam 2026 ticketing platform. Visitors can buy session tickets, finals tickets, all-session passes, finals passes, VIP tickets, accessible tickets and children’s tickets. The official FAQ says tickets will be emailed no later than two weeks before the event.

You should use official ticket channels only. The organisers state that there is currently no official resale platform, and buying through third-party resale sites is at your own risk.

Epke Zonderland appointed tournament director

Olympic horizontal-bar champion Epke Zonderland has been appointed tournament director for the 2026 World Championships. In this role, he represents the event to fans, media and partners, while bringing the experience of a former elite gymnast to the organisation.

Zonderland said it was an honour to be involved as tournament director in his own country, adding that Rotterdam Ahoy would be the stage for an event designed to inspire the gymnastics world.

The championships are organised by the Royal Dutch Gymnastics Federation, KNGU, and TIG Sports & Events. The official kick-off in October 2025 brought together Epke Zonderland, alderman Faouzi Achbar, Rotterdam Topsport director Peter Blangé, KNGU director Remco Boer and TIG Sports & Events director Noor van der Lugt.

Building Bridges theme and city activities

The 2026 championships are being presented under the theme Building Bridges. According to the organisers, the theme is about connecting generations, cultures, nations, elite sport and grassroots sport. It will appear across the event, fan zones, side events and city campaigns.

The official site also includes a promotional toolkit for clubs, schools and organisations, with ready-to-use materials such as social media posts, frames, posters and colouring pages. The tournament mascot, Twist, is expected to appear during the championships and in the build-up at grassroots sports activities and side events in the city.

Getting to Rotterdam Ahoy

Rotterdam Ahoy is in the Charlois district in the south of the city. The venue is easy to reach by metro via Zuidplein station, which is next to the venue. Ahoy also provides information for visitors arriving by bike, car, taxi and public transport.