The countdown is on. From 16 to 24 October 2026, sixteen of Europe’s finest national teams will gather in Czechia for the IKF European Korfball Championship 2026 – the continent’s premier national-team showcase and a decisive step toward the IKF World Korfball Championship 2027 in the Netherlands.
Hosted by the Czech Korfball Association, the tournament will unfold across three venues: the group phase in Prostějov and Otrokovice, with the decisive final matches played in Zlín. Tickets are already available via the official local organising committee site at korfbal2026.cz.
The Groups Are Set
The official group draw, held live on the IKF YouTube channel on 13 April 2026, produced four compelling pools. The four highest-ranked nations – Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Czechia – were pre-seeded:
- Group A: Netherlands, Catalonia, Poland, Switzerland
- Group B: Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, Scotland
- Group C: Germany, Türkiye, Slovakia, Serbia
- Group D: Czechia, England, Ireland, Wales
Reigning world and European champions the Netherlands head Group A against a dynamic Catalonia, a rising Poland and Switzerland. Belgium lead a competitive Group B featuring Portugal, Hungary and Scotland. Germany and Türkiye meet early in Group C alongside Slovakia and Serbia, while hosts Czechia open against England, Ireland and Wales in Group D. Expect traditional rivalries, emerging contenders and plenty of surprises across nine days of action.
A Qualifier with Major Consequences
The stakes could not be higher. The IKF European Korfball Championship 2026 serves as the primary qualification event for Europe at the 2027 World Championship, which will bring 24 teams to the Netherlands from 15 to 24 October 2027. The top ten teams from the European championship will secure their places at the WKC 2027 (provided that at least seventeen teams participate across the EKC 2026 and EKC 2026 Round 1 competitions). With the Netherlands already qualified as hosts, every other nation will be fighting for a berth on the global stage and for the right to challenge the sport’s dominant force on home soil.
Looking Back at the Last European Championships
The 2024 cycle underlined both the strength at the top and the depth across the continent. In the A-Division, held in Calonge i Sant Antoni, Catalonia, the Netherlands claimed their record-extending ninth European title with a 21–15 victory over Belgium in the final. Germany took bronze by defeating the hosts Catalonia 18–13. It was the first major title for new Dutch head coach Ard Korporaal and further cemented the Netherlands’ status as the undisputed powerhouse of the sport.
In the B-Division in Kemer, Türkiye, Poland were crowned champions after defeating the hosts in the final, with the top eight teams earning promotion to the 2026 championship. Those results helped shape the field that will now compete in Czechia, ensuring a strong mix of established powers and ambitious nations ready to make their mark.
How to Follow Every Moment
Fans worldwide can watch and follow the entire tournament live on the IKF YouTube channel and on worldkorfball.sport, which will provide live streams, real-time results, statistics, scorers and play-by-play. Image galleries, match reports, video interviews and highlights will also be available on the following dedicated tournament’s page: korfball.sport/ekc2026
Live broadcast playlist
Join the conversation on social media with the hashtags #EKC2026 and #korfball for images, clips, highlights and behind-the-scenes content. You can find all this content and much more visiting the following official main IKF profiles:
► instagram.com/korfball_org
► facebook.com/korfball.org
► x.com/korfball
► tiktok.com/@korfball.sport
Korfball’s unique mixed-gender character, speed and teamwork will be on full display as Europe’s best battle for the title, for medals and for a place at the 2027 World Championship. Whether you support the established giants, the ambitious challengers or the passionate home crowd in Czechia, this is a championship not to be missed.
The road to Prostějov, Otrokovice and Zlín is set. Get ready for nine days of world-class korfball, unforgettable atmospheres and the next chapter in the sport’s European story.