Quick answer: The 2026 ADCC World Championship takes place September 12–13, 2026 at TAURON Arena Kraków in Kraków, Poland, with the ADCC Amateur World Championship at the same venue the day before, on September 11. It is ADCC’s first World Championship held outside Las Vegas since 2019 and its first in Europe since Espoo, Finland in 2017. The event contests five men’s weight classes (from 65.9 kg to +99 kg), three women’s weight classes (55 kg, 65 kg, +65 kg), and the no-weight-limit Absolute divisions. Roughly half the field qualifies through ADCC’s continental Trials and the other half competes by direct invitation. FloGrappling holds the streaming rights. Matches run 10 minutes in the qualifying rounds and 20 minutes in the finals — with no positive points scored in the first half of any match.
Last updated: July 20, 2026. This page tracks the 2026 ADCC World Championship — confirmed dates, venue, format, and how to watch — and is updated as ADCC announces the superfight, qualified athletes, and ticket details. For the divisions and scoring you’ll see on the mats, read our ADCC weight classes guide and ADCC rules guide.
ADCC 2026 at a glance
| Event | ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2026 |
| Dates | September 12–13, 2026 |
| Venue | TAURON Arena Kraków |
| Location | Stanisława Lema 7, 31-571 Kraków, Poland |
| Amateur Worlds | September 11, 2026 — same venue |
| Divisions | 5 men’s, 3 women’s, plus Absolute |
| Qualification | ~50% via continental Trials, ~50% by invitation |
| Streaming | FloGrappling |
When is ADCC 2026?
The professional World Championship runs across two days, Saturday September 12 and Sunday September 13, 2026. The weight-class brackets are contested first and the Absolute divisions close the event, which is the traditional ADCC structure — champions are crowned in their weight class before the open-weight bracket decides the weekend’s signature title.
The ADCC Amateur World Championship — the third edition, organized by ADCC Poland — takes place on Friday September 11 in the same building, with Professional, Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner, and Kids divisions. Amateur competitors register through Smoothcomp and compete on the same mats the world’s elite use hours later.
Why Kraków matters
ADCC has held its World Championship in Las Vegas for the last two cycles (2022 and 2024), and hasn’t staged one outside the United States since Anaheim in 2019. Kraków ends both streaks: it’s the first Worlds in Europe since Espoo, Finland in 2017, and the first outside Las Vegas in seven years.
| Year | Host city |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Barcelona, Spain |
| 2011 | Nottingham, England |
| 2013 | Beijing, China |
| 2015 | São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2017 | Espoo, Finland |
| 2019 | Anaheim, USA |
| 2022 | Las Vegas, USA |
| 2024 | Las Vegas, USA |
| 2026 | Kraków, Poland |
For European grapplers the practical consequence is travel: a continent that has spent nearly a decade flying to the United States to watch or compete at ADCC now hosts it, in a 20,000-capacity arena. TAURON Arena Kraków is the largest indoor venue in Poland.
How to watch ADCC 2026
FloGrappling holds ADCC’s streaming rights and is the broadcaster for the 2026 World Championship, as it has been for recent editions. A FloGrappling subscription is the reliable way to watch live from outside the arena. Note that Kraków sits in Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in September — a significant shift for North American viewers, who should expect the action to run during their morning hours rather than the evening slots the Las Vegas editions occupied.
ADCC had not announced ticket on-sale details at the time of writing. We’ll update this page when they do.
Who qualifies for ADCC?
ADCC’s field is deliberately small — the reason its brackets are stacked. Roughly half the competitors earn their place by winning a continental Trials event (regional qualifiers held across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania), and the other half receive direct invitations from ADCC, typically reigning champions, previous medalists, and elite grapplers with standout recent results.
ADCC had not published the full 2026 invited-athlete list or the superfight matchup as of this update. The superfight — a single marquee match, usually contested by the reigning Absolute champion — is traditionally announced closer to the event.
Divisions being contested
The World Championship uses ADCC’s five-division men’s ladder and three-division women’s ladder — narrower than the ladder used at ADCC Opens, and one of the sport’s most demanding structures because the weight gaps are wide.
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| −65.9 kg (145.2 lbs) | −55 kg (121.2 lbs) |
| −76.9 kg (169.5 lbs) | −65 kg (143.3 lbs) |
| −87.9 kg (193.7 lbs) | +65 kg (over 143.3 lbs) |
| −98.9 kg (218.0 lbs) | — |
| +99 kg (over 220.5 lbs) | — |
| Absolute (Open) — no weight limit, both sexes | |
Full division detail, including the different ladder used at ADCC Opens and nationals, is in our ADCC weight classes guide.
What makes ADCC matches different
If you’re watching ADCC for the first time, two rules explain most of what you’ll see. First, no positive points are scored in the first half of any match — a 10-minute qualifying match awards nothing for position until minute 5, and a 20-minute final until minute 10. That front half is effectively free submission-hunting time, which is why ADCC matches so often erupt late. Second, every leg lock is legal, heel hooks included, at every level of the event.
Add negative points for stalling and guard pulling, no advantages, and a 10×10 m open mat with no cage, and you get a ruleset built to force finishes. The complete points table and legal-technique list is in our ADCC rules guide.
Bottom line
ADCC 2026 runs September 12–13 at TAURON Arena Kraków, with the Amateur Worlds on September 11 and FloGrappling streaming. It’s the sport’s most exclusive tournament returning to Europe for the first time in nine years. Superfight, invited athletes, and ticket details are still to come from ADCC — we’ll update this page as they’re confirmed.
FAQ
When is ADCC 2026?
The ADCC World Championship 2026 is on September 12–13, 2026. The ADCC Amateur World Championship is the day before, September 11.
Where is ADCC 2026 being held?
TAURON Arena Kraków, at Stanisława Lema 7 in Kraków, Poland — the largest indoor arena in the country.
How can I watch ADCC 2026?
FloGrappling holds the streaming rights and will broadcast the event. Kraków is on Central European Summer Time in September, so North American viewers should expect morning start times.
Is ADCC 2026 in Europe?
Yes. Kraków is ADCC’s first European World Championship since Espoo, Finland in 2017, and its first outside Las Vegas since Anaheim in 2019.
How do you qualify for ADCC?
About half the field wins a continental Trials event; the other half is invited directly by ADCC, typically reigning champions and recent medalists.
Can amateurs compete at ADCC?
Yes — the ADCC Amateur World Championship on September 11 has Professional, Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner, and Kids divisions, held at the same venue and registered through Smoothcomp.
