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duisburg2026.com25 years after the World Rowing Junior Championships, the world’s best up‑and‑coming athletes return to Duisburg
Duisburg has reason to celebrate: international medals will once again be awarded on the regatta course in the Duisburg Sportpark in 2026. The world rowing federation World Rowing has awarded the U23 World Rowing Championships to Duisburg. The International Wedau Regatta association received the hosting rights for the title competitions in four years during the World Rowing Championships at the World Rowing Congress in Račice, Czech Republic.
Duisburg has reason to celebrate: international medals will once again be awarded on the regatta course in the Duisburg Sportpark in 2026. The world rowing federation World Rowing has awarded the U23 World Rowing Championships to Duisburg. The International Wedau Regatta association received the hosting rights for the title competitions in four years during the World Rowing Championships at the World Rowing Congress in Račice, Czech Republic.
Duisburg prevailed over its U.S. competitor, Sarasota. In July 2026, the world’s best young talents from more than 60 nations—over 1,000 participants—will compete for medals in Duisburg over the course of a week. Following the World University Games 2025, spectators will be able to enjoy top‑class sport from the newly completed grandstand.
For the organizing International Wedau Regatta association, the regatta team led by competition director Tobias Weysters and chairman Thomas Küpper compiled the extensive application documents.
After the successful bid, the chairman of the regatta association, Thomas Küpper, said: “We are delighted that we were able to convince the World Rowing Federation of Duisburg and our course.” Competition director Tobias Weysters added: “This confirmation strengthens Duisburg’s position as a regatta venue. The U23 European Championships in 2020, as well as the regular International Wedau Regatta, convinced the World Rowing Federation that—25 years after hosting the U19 World Championships in 2001—we should once again organize a World Championship.”
The World Rowing Under 23 Championships in four years will be able to offer top‑level sport following the modernization of the regatta course. After the Canoe World Championships 2023, reconstruction work on the grandstand and the office building will begin. The work is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2025 Universiade in the Rhine‑Ruhr region, where the rowing competitions will, of course, also take place in Duisburg.
