The IFSC Youth World Championships will return to Arco, Italy, in 2026 for the third time, with the 35th edition of the event scheduled across July 18-25 at the newly renovated Arco Climbing Stadium in the Italian Alps.
The announcement, formalised at the recent IFSC General Assembly in Helsinki, sees FASI President Davide Battistella receive the official IFSC flag during the handover ceremony as the Italian Climbing Federation formally takes over hosting responsibilities from the 2024 host nation.
Arco's return marks the third time the Trentino town has staged the Youth Worlds, following editions in 2015 and 2019. The venue has built a significant international climbing reputation across the past 20 years, also hosting the inaugural Para Climbing World Championships in 2011 and multiple senior IFSC World Cup events.
The 2026 edition will feature U17 and U19 athletes across three disciplines Boulder, Lead, and Speed in what is the federation's largest annual youth event. The Youth Worlds have produced a steady stream of senior elite climbers across the past decade, with two-time Olympic champion Janja Garnbret a former Youth Worlds winner and Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist Toby Roberts following the same pathway.
The Arco Climbing Stadium, which has undergone a multi-million-euro renovation through 2024-25, sits at the foot of the limestone walls that have made the Trentino region one of the global sport-climbing meccas. The venue's redesign includes a new central spectator stand, upgraded route-setting infrastructure, and a permanent speed wall built to IFSC senior standards.
FASI's youth pathway, which feeds into the Italian senior squad currently competing across the IFSC season, has been one of the more productive in Europe. Italian climbers who have either won or medalled at the Youth Worlds in past editions include current senior World Cup medallist Laura Rogora and a clutch of U25 athletes including Giovanni Placci, who is currently competing at the 2026 Wujiang Lead World Cup.
The Arco event is also expected to serve as the first major test of the IFSC's revised Youth Worlds format. Federation officials have signalled a possible expansion of athlete cap numbers and adjustments to the discipline scheduling, with details to be confirmed in the months leading up to the event.
The combination of Italy's strong climbing culture, Arco's proven venue, and the renovated stadium has made the Trentino town one of the IFSC's preferred return-hosting locations across all categories. The 2015 and 2019 editions both produced near-capacity crowds, with the latter setting an attendance record for an IFSC Youth Worlds.
The 35th edition's competition schedule will include:
- Speed events (men/women, U17/U19): early-week - Boulder qualifying and finals: mid-week - Lead qualifying, semi-finals and finals: late-week - Combined awards ceremony: Saturday July 25
Live broadcast coverage will be available on the World Climbing YouTube channel, with regional broadcasters expected to be announced in the months leading up to the event.
For IFSC senior pathway-watchers, the 2026 Youth Worlds in Arco will be one of the most-watched annual junior events for spotting future senior World Cup and Olympic talent. Past editions have produced future Olympic gold medallists, World Cup overall champions, and senior World Championship medallists a pipeline pattern that is unlikely to break in 2026.
Arco's home town crowd, plus the renovated stadium infrastructure, sets up an event that should rival the strongest senior World Cups for atmosphere and competition quality.