From June to September 2026, the World Aquatics Junior and Youth World Championships brought together the next generation of aquatic talent across Water Polo, Artistic Swimming, Diving and Open Water Swimming.
Seven championships were held across Europe and South America, giving young athletes valuable international competition experience — while also creating opportunities to learn about the support, education and development pathways available through World Aquatics.
Seven events across four sports
The programme featured:
- World Aquatics Men’s U18 Water Polo Championships 2026 – Rio Maior, Portugal, 27 June – 4 July
- World Aquatics Women’s U16 Water Polo Championships 2026 – Zagreb, Croatia, 25–31 July
- World Aquatics Men’s U16 Water Polo Championships 2026 – Zagreb, Croatia, 3–9 August
- World Aquatics Women’s U18 Water Polo Championships 2026 – Tenerife, Spain, 16–23 August
- World Aquatics Artistic Swimming Junior World Championships – Budapest, Hungary, 12–16 August
- World Aquatics Diving Junior World Championships – Rijeka, Croatia, 21–28 August
- World Aquatics Open Water Junior World Championships – Santa Fe, Argentina, 3–6 September
Taking development to the athletes
Each championship included a dedicated athlete workshop, reaching around 50–70 participants at each event.
The presentations introduced athletes to the World Aquatics Athletes Committee and its role in representing the athlete voice.
Athletes also learned about the World Aquatics Scholarship Programme, including eligibility, the application process and key timelines.
A key message was the role of National Federations. Athletes were encouraged to speak with their federation about scholarship opportunities, with federations responsible for supporting eligible athletes through the nomination and application process.
Supporting the coaches
Each championship also hosted a dedicated coach workshop, with around 20–50 coaches taking part at each event.
The sessions introduced the World Aquatics Coaches Certification Programme, covering:
- Eligibility requirements
- How to apply
- Course structure and content
- Certification pathways
- Practical and online learning opportunities
Coaches were introduced to key areas covered within the courses, including athlete development, coaching skills, sports science, wellbeing, integrity and practical coaching.
The sessions also highlighted CORAL, the World Aquatics e-learning platform, as an important resource for continued professional development.
As with the athlete programme, the presentations reinforced the important role of National Federations in identifying and supporting coaches seeking development and certification opportunities.
Learning beyond the competition
The workshops ensured that the Junior and Youth World Championships were about more than competition.
They gave athletes and coaches direct access to information about representation, scholarships, education and professional development, helping participants understand the opportunities available as they progress through their aquatic careers.
World Aquatics representatives on the ground
World Aquatics representatives joined the championships throughout the summer. They also delivered the workshops for the coaches and athletes:
Felipe Perrone, Development Advisor, attended the Water Polo events through 9th August.
Giorgio Minisini, World Aquatics Ambassador, attended World Aquatics Artistic Swimming Junior World Championships.
Rita Keszthelyi and Yona Knight-Wisdom, members of the World Aquatics Athletes Committee, attended World Aquatics Women’s U18 Water Polo Championships 2026 and World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships respectively.
Britta Schwengle, World Aquatics Ambassador and former scholarship holder, attended World Aquatics Open Water Junior World Championships
Their presence provided athletes and coaches with opportunities to connect directly with experienced members of the World Aquatics community.
By combining world-class junior competition with athlete representation, scholarship information, coach education and direct engagement, the 2026 Junior and Youth Championships helped connect the next generation with the pathways and opportunities that can support their future in aquatics.