There is disappointing news for SUP athletes who have been preparing their season around a world championship. The 2026 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will not be held this year.
The ISA SUP account (@isasupok) responded to concerns in a public comment, confirming that the event would not take place and explaining the background. Central to the decision is an approval requirement that gives athletes and national federations at least six months to prepare. The ISA also said it would focus on securing a host for an event in early 2027.
A gap in the 2026 world championship season
This news concerns the ISA's SUP and paddleboard world championship. Without this year's opportunity to compete for individual and national-team honours, athletes and officials who had been awaiting the event must review their season plans.
A world championship involves far more than its start line. Training, national selection, equipment preparation and travel arrangements are coordinated over many months. A decision not to hold the event affects that whole process.
The 2026 ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship will not take place. The next event's host and dates have not yet been confirmed.
The stated reason: a minimum of six months' advance notice
The condition described in the ISA's comment is clear. Its Annual General Meeting on 1 September 2026 decided that an ISA event cannot be approved unless athletes and national federations can be given at least six months' notice.
In other words, athletes and federations must have a minimum six-month preparation window when an event is announced. A new announcement in September for an event before the end of the year would not provide that window. The ISA's explanation links this approval condition to the decision not to hold the event in 2026.
The comment confirms that this year's event will not take place and that approval requires at least six months' notice. The ISA is therefore concentrating on finding a viable host for early 2027. It also says confirmed developments will be communicated to the SUP community.
The approval condition is whether athletes and national federations can receive at least six months' advance notice. This is the direct background to the 2026 decision given in the ISA's public response.
Why do athletes need six months?
Performance preparation is only one part of attending a world championship. National federations must organise selection and support, while athletes plan training loads and peak condition around the event. Flights, accommodation, board transport and travel dates also need to fit together.
Advance notice makes those preparations more predictable. With dates and a venue announced early, athletes can decide whether to enter and budget their time and money. Federations also gain time to coordinate selection and team support.
That principle does not remove the disappointment for athletes who have already trained in anticipation of this year's event. Early confirmation of the next host and dates now matters even more.
Details of the host negotiations remain undisclosed
The public response explains the approval condition and the search for the next host. It does not identify a prospective 2026 venue, describe how far negotiations had progressed, or explain why confirmation was delayed.
There is therefore no basis to present a funding shortfall, sponsor withdrawal or a particular host's withdrawal as the cause. The information available covers the six-month notice condition, the absence of a 2026 event and the plan to secure the next host. Further announcements are needed to establish the negotiating and operational background.
Early 2027 is a target, not a confirmed date
The ISA is focusing on securing a host capable of staging the event in early 2027. Its public response does not name a confirmed city or date. It should not be read as confirmation of a specific event date in 2027.
The cancellation of this year's event and confirmation of the next one are separate matters. Athletes and teams need a venue, competition schedule and selection and registration procedures before making firm plans. The ISA has said it will communicate confirmed developments.
Efforts are under way to secure an early-2027 host. The host city, dates and registration arrangements still await confirmation.
The remaining 2026 season: Melilla and Sabaudia
Although the ISA championship leaves a gap, the autumn international SUP calendar continues. The European Surfing Federation's EUROSUP is scheduled for Melilla, Spain, while Paddle Worldwide, formerly the ICF, has its SUP World Championships scheduled in Sabaudia, Italy.
The EUROSUP team guide lists the overall event period as 1–6 October, with competition planned for 3–6 October. Sabaudia's official event dates are 14–18 October. The detailed EUROSUP programme may change with weather and local conditions.
The events have different governing bodies and entry systems. Cancellation of the ISA event does not automatically transfer eligibility or championship titles to another competition. Athletes and teams should check each organiser's entry requirements and latest notices separately.
- EUROSUP · Melilla, Spain
- Overall event: 1–6 October 2026 / Competition: 3–6 October · ESF team guide
- SUP World Championships · Sabaudia, Italy
- 14–18 October 2026 · Official Paddle Worldwide (formerly ICF) schedule
The most important commitment for the next start line
Athletes need both the prospect of competing and a concrete schedule that allows them to keep preparing. The gap left by the 2026 ISA championship cannot be reversed, but confirming and communicating the next venue and dates early can make future preparations easier.
The next developments to watch are a secured host and an official schedule for the proposed early-2027 event. Athletes need those details to plan their training and daily lives around the next start line.