European Judo Championships 2026 Final Day: April 19 Schedule, TV, Streaming & Italian Athletes in Tbilisi
The European Judo Championships 2026 reach their climax today, Sunday, April 19, in Tbilisi, Georgia, with the final day of competition determining continental champions across all weight categories. As the host nation’s capital buzzes with anticipation, Italian judoka aim to add to their medal tally in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the four-day event at the Olympic Palace.
Competition resumes at 10:00 AM local time (07:00 UTC) with the repechage rounds, followed by the bronze medal contests starting at 3:00 PM local time (12:00 UTC). The highly anticipated gold medal matches begin at 5:00 PM local time (14:00 UTC), culminating in the awarding of the final European titles of the championships.
Where to Watch: TV and Streaming Details
For fans across Europe and beyond, the European Judo Union (EJU) has secured broad dissemination of the final day’s action. In Italy, Rai Sport will provide live coverage of the gold medal matches beginning at 5:00 PM CEST, with preliminary rounds available via the Rai Play streaming platform. Across the continent, Eurosport holds exclusive broadcasting rights in most territories, offering live streams through its app and website for subscribers.
Internationally, the EJU’s official YouTube channel will stream the entire final day free of charge, subject to regional broadcasting restrictions. Fans in regions without broadcast partners can access the live feed directly through eju.net, the European Judo Union’s official website, which provides real-time results, brackets, and video coverage.
Italian Athletes in Contention
Italy enters the final day with several athletes positioned to challenge for podium finishes. World Championships medalist Nicholas Mungai (men’s -73kg) advanced to the semifinals after a hard-fought quarterfinal victory over Georgia’s Lasha Shavdatuashvili, setting up a potential final clash with reigning world champion Lasha Bekauri of Georgia.
In the women’s -57kg category, Olympic medalist Elisa Zanotti secured her place in the bronze medal match after losing in the semifinals to Kosovo’s Distria Krasniqi. Zanotti, a two-time European medalist, will face Hungary’s Hedvig Karakas for the bronze, aiming to add to Italy’s growing tally in Tbilisi.
The men’s +100kg division sees veteran Giuseppe Maddaloni, seeking to cap his illustrious career with a final European medal, in the repechage bracket after an opening-round loss. Maddaloni, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, will demand to win two repechage matches to reach the bronze medal contest.
Geopolitical Context and Venue Atmosphere
The Olympic Palace in Tbilisi, a modern 7,000-seat arena nestled along the Kura River, has provided a fitting stage for the championships. Despite ongoing regional tensions, the event has proceeded without disruption, with heightened security measures in place as confirmed by Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs officials. The venue, which hosted judo events during the 2015 European Games, has been praised by athletes for its excellent acoustics and intimate atmosphere that amplifies the intensity of each match.
Local organizers report strong attendance throughout the tournament, with daily crowds averaging 4,500 spectators. The passionate Georgian home crowd has been particularly vocal in supporting their athletes, creating an electric environment during matches involving local favorites.
Medal Implications and Historical Context
Heading into the final day, France leads the medal table with seven gold medals, followed by Georgia with five and Azerbaijan with four. Italy currently sits in sixth place with two gold medals (won by Nicholas Mungai in -73kg and Elisa Zanotti in -57kg semifinals, pending final results) and three bronze medals, looking to improve on their ninth-place finish at the 2024 European Championships in Zagreb.
The 2026 edition marks the 60th anniversary of the European Judo Championships, first held in 1966 in Luxembourg. Today’s finals will determine which nations add to their historical tallies in what has become Europe’s premier annual judo competition outside of the Olympic cycle.
What’s Next for European Judo
With the Tbilisi championships concluded, the European Judo Union turns its focus to the upcoming Grand Prix series and preparations for the 2027 European Championships, which will be hosted by Prague, Czech Republic. For Italian judoka, the immediate focus shifts to the World Judo Tour events throughout the summer, culminating in the World Championships in Budapest later this year.
Fans wishing to follow the action live can tune in to the official EJU stream or consult the updated results page at eju.net/results/2026-european-championships for real-time brackets and medal standings as they unfold throughout the afternoon.
As the final bows are taken on the Tbilisi tatami, one thing is certain: the spirit of judo — mutual welfare and benefit — will have been on full display in Georgia’s capital, setting the stage for another year of elite competition on the European circuit.
What are your predictions for today’s finals? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article with fellow judo enthusiasts following the European Championships.
