Paddle Europe

Tacen is ready to open the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup season tomorrow

A total of 196 athletes from 29 nations will compete on one of the world’s most iconic whitewater courses, with European paddlers representing more than 76% of the entries.

Among the athletes to watch are European stars such as Jiri Prskavec, Miquel Travé, Titouan Castryck, Nicolas Gestin, Gabriela Satková and Joseph Clarke.

Special attention will be on Slovenia’s Žiga Lin Hočevar, who became European Champion in Tacen in 2024 after leading a historic Slovenian podium sweep in Men’s Canoe on home water.

The road to the 2026 European Championships in Ivrea officially starts now.

Another huge international weekend for canoeing and Europe was once again among the leading forces worldwide.

At the 2026 ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup in Bazhong, European paddlers delivered strong performances across both short race and classic marathon events.

Highlights included:
Pernille Külers Hostrup winning the K1 Women Short Race
Hungary dominating the K1 Men Short Race through Balint Noe and Csanad Sellyei
Fernando Busto Bandin taking victory in the C1 Men Short Race
Panna Csepe and Philip Knudsen winning the senior K1 marathon races

European athletes from Hungary, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain, France, Czechia and many others consistently fought for medals and top positions throughout the weekend, while China also showed growing strength in canoe events on home waters.

Another strong statement from European canoe sport across marathon, sprint, slalom, wildwater and ocean racing competitions all around the world.

A busy weekend across multiple paddle disciplines in Europe saw Denmark host the 11th edition of the Bellevue Ocean Race, where Germany’s Gordan Harbrecht — the 2024 ICF Ocean Racing World Champion and the first European athlete ever to win the world title — claimed victory in the opening major race of the 2026 season.

Full results available here: https://www.sportstiming.dk/event/17682/results?round=101908

A weekend of top-level racing in Bratislava as the 39th International Junior & U23 Regatta brought together some of the best young canoe sprint athletes in Europe at the Zemník venue — host of the 2024 ECA Junior & U23 European Championships.

Germany, Poland and host nation Slovakia were among the strongest teams of the competition, while Türkiye’s Resül Aydin stood out with double gold in the U23 C1 200m and 5000m events.

The regatta once again confirmed Bratislava as one of Europe’s key development venues for future international canoe sprint stars.

Details information about the weekend of racing in Bratislava here https://paddle-europe.eu/news/strong-international-field-delivers-high-level-racing-at-bratislava-junior-u23-regatta-3295

Europe once again confirmed its dominance in wildwater canoeing at the 2026 ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in Banja Luka

Cecilia Panato (ITA) was among the stars of the event with multiple world titles, while France dominated the men’s canoe events across Classic, Sprint and Team races. Slovenia impressed in kayak sprint events, and Czech athletes collected victories across several disciplines.

Banja Luka also strengthened its place in the international calendar after hosting the 2026 Paddle Europe Wildwater Cup III earlier this season

Italy and France emerged as the dominant nations on the opening day of the 2026 ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in Banja Luka, with multiple medals across the Classic events on the Vrbas River.

Cecilia Panato was one of the stars of the day, securing double world titles in Women’s Kayak and Women’s Canoe, while Belgium’s Leo Montulet claimed an impressive victory in the Men’s Kayak Classic.

A total of 27 nations are competing in Banja Luka, with European countries representing nearly 78% of the participating nations, once again confirming Europe’s leading role in wildwater canoeing.

The championships continue with Team Classic and Sprint events later this week.

The 2026 Paddle Europe Slalom Cup continues to deliver high-level racing across Europe, with Krakow playing a key role in reshaping the overall standings ahead of the decisive summer events.

After six races, David Skubik (SVK), Dominika Brzeska (POL), Kacper Sztuba (POL) and Fia Buetikofer (SUI) currently lead the four Olympic categories, while the battle for the overall titles remains fully open before Bratislava, Prague and Cesson Sévigné.

Full rankings available now on Paddle Europe, in Slalom Documents section

🌍🚣‍♀️ Shaping the future of global paddlesports!

Last week in Budapest, ahead of the Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged, the International Canoe Federation brought together its main governing bodies for several days of strategic meetings.

Continental federations meetings, Executive Committee, Board meetings… an intensive programme focused on the major challenges and opportunities for our sport:
✅ ICF governance review
✅ preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games
✅ evolution of sporting regulations
✅ allocation of future championships
✅ digital projects and development of our disciplines
✅ preparation of the 2027 Congress in Oklahoma

Paddle Europe was strongly represented by:
🔹 Jean Zoungrana – President
🔹 Moira Aston – Vice-President
🔹 Andrej Jelenc – Vice-President
🔹 Peter Karai – Board Member

Our representatives actively contributed to the discussions and strategic reflections shaping the future of paddlesports in Europe and worldwide.

These meetings also provided an opportunity for a first exchange with the newly elected President of the Asian Canoe Confederation, Mr. Prashant Kushawa, opening the door to future cooperation between continents.

Europe once again confirmed its global strength at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup II in Brandenburg.

Hungary and Germany led the European medal charge in sprint, while Great Britain and Ukraine impressed in paracanoe as the international season continues to build momentum ahead of the European Championships.

Attention now turns to 🇵🇹 Montemor-o-Velho, where Europe’s best paddlers will reunite in less than one month for the 2026 European Championships.

Europe’s next generation of canoe sprint stars heading to Bratislava once again

The 39th International Junior & U23 Regatta returns to the Zemník venue from 22–24 May, bringing together some of the strongest young paddlers from across Europe and beyond.

Following a highly competitive 2025 edition dominated by Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Germany, this year’s regatta once again promises top-level racing and an early look at future European and World Championship contenders.

Preliminary entries and participating countries already online at official website at regatta.canoe.sk