LIVE
Share on Facebook
Following the impressive opening of the 20th International Summer Martial Arts Camp, attention now turns to one of the flagship events on the programme – the World Cup Varna 2026. The prestigious international Kyokushin tournament, taking place near Varna on July 7, will bring together 435 competitors from 25 countries, aged 14 to 21, who will compete across various age and weight categories.
The Bulgarian national team, led by Shihan Zahari Damyanov and Sensei Petar Martinov, will be represented by 70 competitors from the Bulgarian Karate Kyokushin Federation (BKKF), making it one of the largest national delegations in the tournament. The Kyokushin talents will face some of the most promising young fighters from Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa as they compete for medals and the World Cup title.
Alongside Bulgaria, national and club teams from Japan, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Israel, Moldova, Serbia, and many other countries will compete, making this year's edition one of the strongest in the tournament's history.
The World Cup Varna is among the most prestigious international competitions for young Kyokushin athletes and represents an important milestone in the development of future champions. The tournament provides young fighters with the opportunity to compete at the highest international level, gain invaluable competitive experience, and showcase their abilities before some of the world's leading instructors and referees.
The competition is part of the programme of the 20th International Summer Martial Arts Camp, which, from July 5 to 12, brings together more than 1,600 participants from 49 countries near Varna. Throughout the week, young athletes have the opportunity to train under the guidance of world-renowned masters, legendary K-1 champions, and internationally recognised instructors in Kyokushin Karate, kickboxing, and Iaido.
Expectations are high that the World Cup Varna 2026 will deliver contests of exceptional sporting quality, while the Bulgarian competitors will look to capitalize on home advantage, the support of the local crowd, and their thorough preparation to challenge for the top places in one of the world's strongest international Kyokushin tournaments for young athletes.
