European Judo Championships 2026: April 17 Schedule, TV, Streaming, and Italian Athletes in Action

On Friday, April 17, 2026, the European Judo Championships Seniors Tbilisi 2026 Individuals continues in Tbilisi, Georgia, marking the second day of competition at the Olympic Palace. According to the official International Judo Federation (IJF) competition overview, Day 2 preliminaries begin at 10:00 local time (Asia/Tbilisi, UTC+4) for men’s -73 kg category and women’s -57 kg and -63 kg divisions, with the final block scheduled for 16:00 local time.

The event, part of the IJF World Tour, features 400 judoka from 46 nations competing across all weight classes from April 16–19, 2026. As confirmed by the IJF and European Judo Union (EJU) sources, Tbilisi’s Olympic Palace hosts the championships, which serve as a key stop on the senior European circuit ahead of the Olympic qualification period.

April 17 Competition Schedule (Local Time)

Based on the official IJF draw and statistics for the European Senior Championships 2026 Individuals:

• 10:00 – Preliminaries: Men’s -73 kg, Women’s -57 kg, Women’s -63 kg
• 16:00 – Final Block: Medal contests for Day 2 categories

All times are in local Tbilisi time (UTC+4). The competition follows a structured format where preliminaries determine semifinalists, with finals held later each day to award medals in the contested weight classes.

How to Watch: TV and Streaming Options

Although the IJF competition page notes that TV information is not yet available for this event, the European Judo Championships are typically broadcast through official judo platforms and regional sports networks. The IJF’s JudoTV service often provides live streaming for World Tour events, and the EJU may offer digital coverage through its official channels. Viewers are advised to check the IJF event page and EJU website for the most current broadcast details as the competition approaches.

Italian Athletes in Competition

Although the provided search results do not list specific Italian competitors for the 2026 European Judo Championships, historical participation indicates Italy regularly sends athletes to this event. In the 2025 European Championships held in Podgorica, Italian judokas competed across multiple weight classes, with notable athletes such as Odette Giuffrida (women’s -63 kg) and Manuel Lombardo (men’s -66 kg) having represented Italy in recent editions.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on Italy’s 2026 roster, including qualified athletes and their seedings, readers should consult the official Italian Judo Federation (FIJLKAM) website or the IJF’s athlete list for the Tbilisi event once published.

Medal Contenders and Recent Form

Based on the medal summary from the 2026 European Judo Championships Wikipedia page (which reflects the actual competition results as reported by official sources):

• France leads the medal table with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze (4 total)
• Russian Federation follows with 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze (3 total)
• Kosovo secured 1 gold medal
• Georgia and Finland each won 1 silver medal
• Azerbaijan, Spain, Israel, and Italy each earned 1 bronze medal

Notably, Luka Mkheidze of France won gold in the men’s -60 kg category, defeating Giorgi Sardalashvili of Georgia in the final. Mkheidze, who has spoken publicly about his connection to Georgia, stated in a European Judo Union interview that “Georgia is my second home,” highlighting the personal significance of competing in Tbilisi.

Competition Context and Significance

The 2026 European Judo Championships serve as both a prestigious continental title event and a critical opportunity for athletes to earn ranking points in the IJF World Tour standings. With 46 nations represented and nearly equal participation between men (227) and women (173), the tournament reflects judo’s broad European appeal.

Host nation Georgia, competing before a home crowd in Tbilisi, aimed to build on its strong showing in recent years. While the medal table shows Georgia earning one silver medal (in the men’s -66 kg category via Murad Chopanov of Russia? Wait, no—let’s correct this based on actual data: Georgia’s medal came from where? Actually, reviewing the medal table: Georgia (GEO) is listed with 0 gold, 1 silver, 0 bronze, total 1. The silver medalist in men’s -66 kg was Luukas Saha of Finland, not Georgian. Rechecking: Georgia’s medal likely came from another weight class. The table shows Georgia with 1 silver, but doesn’t specify the event in the snippet. However, since we must only apply verified content, we state: Georgia earned 1 silver medal as per the official medal table.)

The championships follow the 2025 edition in Podgorica, Montenegro, and precede the 2027 event scheduled for Apeldoorn, Netherlands, continuing the biennial rotation of the European Senior Championships across different host nations.

What’s Next: Competition Schedule

Following April 17’s events, the competition continues:

• April 18 (Day 3): Preliminaries at 10:00 for men’s -81 kg and -90 kg, women’s -70 kg; finals at 16:00
• April 19 (Day 4): Preliminaries at 10:00 for men’s -100 kg and +100 kg, women’s -78 kg and +78 kg; finals at 16:00

Each day follows the same pattern: morning preliminaries to determine semifinalists, followed by afternoon final blocks where medals are awarded.

For fans seeking real-time updates, the IJF provides live results, contest sheets, and statistics through its competition platform, while JudoTV offers potential video coverage. The European Judo Union also maintains event-specific information on its official website.

As the second day of action unfolds in Tbilisi, judo enthusiasts worldwide can follow the progression of athletes toward medal contention in one of Europe’s premier annual martial arts competitions. The combination of elite competition, national pride, and the historic setting of Georgia’s capital creates a compelling narrative for the sport’s global audience.

Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the 2026 European Judo Championships, including results, athlete interviews, and analysis of how this event shapes the continental hierarchy in Olympic judo.

What are your predictions for the remaining days of competition? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow Archysport on social media for live updates from Tbilisi.