The 2026 World Orienteering Championships (WOC) were officially presented today during a press conference held in the historic Palazzo Tursi, hosted by the Mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis. The Championships will take place from 6–11 July 2026, with competitions in Sestri Ponente and the historic centre of Genoa.
A record 45 nations will be represented at WOC 2026, making this the most internationally attended World Orienteering Championships ever. A total of 239 elite athletes (126 men and 113 women) are expected to compete, while the event will welcome more than a thousand participants including officials, media representatives and support staff.
The presentation also celebrated the four-year journey that brought the Championships to Genoa. Since the Organising Committee was established in 2022, the city has hosted a series of national and international events—including Italian Cup races, World Cup competitions, official training camps, test races and the recent WOC Simulation Week—allowing thousands of athletes to discover the unique sprint terrain of Liguria.
Mayor Silvia Salis underlined the close connection between the city and the discipline:
"Genoa is perfectly suited to orienteering, with its narrow streets, climbs and descents. We hope this sport will continue to return to our city."
FISO President Alfio Giomi highlighted the significance of the Championships for Italian orienteering:
"We are here to present what is the key event of our season. During the Championships we will present the award for the best Italian athlete in memory of Mattia Debertolis. We will also honour Iris Pecorari, the U23 World MTB Orienteering Champion, during the closing ceremony, together with the Italian Junior MTB Orienteering relay team, which won the world title this year. We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Silvia Salis and share the same values of sport. We look forward to welcoming her to one of our races."
Event Director Gianluca Carbone emphasized the scale of the organisational effort behind WOC 2026:
"This is a complex event that has received outstanding support from the local community. Our thanks go to Minister Andrea Abodi, the Liguria Region, the Metropolitan City of Genoa and the Genoa Chamber of Commerce. We will welcome the very best athletes in international orienteering, the result of a journey that began in 2022 with a series of national and international events."
Competition programme
- 6 July - Model event 1
- 7 July – Individual Sprint Qualification & Final (Sestri Ponente)
- 8 July - Model event 2
- 9 July – Knock-Out Sprint Qualification (Sestri Ponente)
- 10 July – Knock-Out Sprint Finals (Genova)
- 11 July – Sprint Relay (Genova)
Alongside the World Championships, the 5 Days of Italy festival will take place from 6 to 11 July, bringing hundreds of additional orienteers to Liguria and creating a week-long celebration of the sport in and around Genoa.
