Climbing will feature at three of the four Olympic Q-Series stops on the road to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), with competitions confirmed for Tokyo, Japan, from 4 to 7 May; Shanghai, China, from 11 to 14 May; and Orlando, USA, from 8 to 11 June 2028.

Announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in May, the Olympic Q-Series is the evolution of the Olympic Qualifier Series, which debuted in 2024 as part of the qualification pathway to Paris 2024. The new format expands both the number of sports involved and the number of host cities. The Olympic Q-Series has an additional stop that will take place in Montreal, Canada, from 1 to 4 June 2028 where Climbing is not featured.

Climbing is one of six sports included in the Olympic Q-Series, alongside 3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, flag football, and skateboarding. Speaking at the Q-Series announcement made by the IOC in May, IOC President Kirsty Coventry described the initiative as “an exciting global event on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games. It’s one format, four stops, six sports.

“The goal is to boost athlete visibility and global fan engagement,” Coventry added.

“We believe the Olympic Q-Series will be really exciting for fans and for the host cities. The fans will be right there with the action – the festival feel, the sport, music, culture – coming to life in iconic cities. It will be fast paced and high energy, with lots of action, world-class athletes and a huge focus on youth.”

OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION PATHWAY

The Olympic Q-Series will award the remaining qualification places for LA28 after the first half of the quota has been allocated through qualification events taking place in 2027.

Approximately 50 percent of the Olympic quota places will be distributed through competitions organised by or with World Climbing, beginning with the European Games in Istanbul, Türkiye, and the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, before continuing with the World Climbing Championship in Brno, Czechia, and the continental qualification events in Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

The Olympic Q-Series will then allocate the remaining places, with a minimum of four quota places per gender in both Boulder and Lead, and six per gender in Speed. Additional places may become available depending on host nation and Universality allocations.