YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ARCO 2026 A LOOK TO CLIMBING’S FUTURE

18 July 2026

Climbers, coaches and parents have come from around the world touching down in the famous climbing town of Arco, Italy for a week of competition

There will be a glimpse into the future this week as the Youth World Climbing Championships welcomes over 750 climbers from 69 nations across six continents to take on the three core climbing disciplines – Boulder, Lead and Speed - and crown the newest world champions at U17 and U19 level.

The Youth World Championships is the premiere youth event which has seen senior world champions and Olympic medallists compete throughout its rich history. The competition has returned to Arco after it last hosted the event in 2015 and 2019.

The event opened with a ceremony to welcome the climbers under the Lead and Speed walls of the Arco Climbing Stadium – the host venue for the competition – with a performance from the Full Out Dance Lab of Arco before World Climbing President Marco Scolaris officially declared the Championship open paying tribute to two former winners who sadly passed away.

“I want to remember two people no longer with us. Cristian Brenna, the great champion of climbing, a World Cup winner and holder of countless Italian titles who passed away last year. Also, Luce Douady, who here in Arco in 2019 won gold in Boulder and bronze in Lead.

“These two great champions, despite the difference in their ages, shared one great quality, they brought a smile wherever they went, and to everyone they met. With that smile in our hearts, I declare the Youth World Championships Arco 2026 officially open.”

In 2026, new countries and federations are in attendance with World Climbing holding development programmes to pass on knowledge to climbers and coaches new to the competition environment with the aim of building experience within the new country’s structures.

When it comes to the competition, there is a wide range of experience and expectations among the climbers with some defending champions, some climbing in an international comp for the first time, some looking to win gold, while others are here just to taste the world of competition climbing.

The competition will start with three days of Lead before Speed takes over for a day. The baton is then passed to Boulder to close the competition with four days of qualification, semi-final and finals. During the week, every semi-final and final for all disciplines will be live streamed on the World Climbing YouTube channel.

“This is my first time at a Youth Worlds. I don’t really know what to expect. I just want to meet people, try the walls, and just have fun.”Emilia Corpancho, Peru

“I’m really excited. I was at the last Youth Worlds in Helsinki so I’m really happy to try another great competition knowing more people. I don’t really have any expectations; I just came here to have fun and climb more and try to do better than I did last year.”Aimara Baldasare, Argentina

“I’m feeling good, I’m excited. Last year was my first Youth Worlds and I am looking forward to this one. I haven’t been to Arco before; it’s a really beautiful place and town.”Hlynur Benediktsson, Iceland

“I’m feeling pretty good about the competition. It’s my first worlds so I’m a bit nervous but I feel I have done good training so I’m excited for it. My goal is to make semis, but I just want to have fun and get some experience.”Laura Howe, Australia

“I’m really looking forward to the competition and having some fun. My goal – to get the gold medal in Boulder.”Kaede Fujita, Japan

“This is my first world class to compete in so I’m excited. I don’t really have expectations for myself as I don’t want to be overawed by them, but my goal is to reach the semi-finals. It’s my first time in Arco and the city is really nice.”Hashim Jafar, Jordan