The U19 World Boxing Championships 2026 will be held in Budva, Montenegro, 14-28 October 2026, following a successful bid by the Boxing Association of Montenegro.
The decision to award hosting rights to the Boxing Association of Montenegro was made by the Executive Board of World Boxing following a competitive bidding process that featured several National Federations.
The competition will take place at the Mediterranean Sports Center and will be the first time that Montenegro has hosted an event that is part of the World Boxing Competition Calendar.
The Secretary General of World Boxing, Tom Dielen, said: “I would like to congratulate the Boxing Association of Montenegro on its excellent bid and we look forward to working collaboratively with it on the delivery of what I am certain will be a first-class competition in the city of Budva.”
The President of the Boxing Association of Montenegro, Alexander Klemenko, added: “This is great news for boxing in Montenegro and we are determined to make Budva the centre of world Olympic boxing for this event.
“Budva is a city with 25 centuries of history, a rich cultural heritage, remarkable natural landscapes, and the unique customs of its local population and our team is committed to creating the necessary conditions for a great competition in an atmosphere of triumphant equality, respect and friendship, honesty and nobility in an environment where young athletes can demonstrate strength of spirit and mastery of their athletic skills as they take the next step on the path to great Olympic achievements.
“We look forward to welcoming all competitors to Montenegro, which is a place where unique nature and centuries-old history unite, and the city of Budva, which is the city of the sun, the city of the sea, the city of friendship and the city of boxing.”
The Boxing Association of Montenegro held its first meeting with World Boxing’s Sport Department at the end of March and further details on the competition will be provided in the coming weeks and months.
The competition in Budva will be the second edition of the U19 World Boxing Championships and follows the inaugural event which was held in Colorado, USA in October and November 2024 and was the first ever global championship competition hosted by World Boxing.