Following the impressive opening of the 20th International Summer Martial Arts Camp, World Cup “Varna” 2026 officially got underway on July 7 with exciting competition across three tatamis, bringing together 436 athletes from 25 countries. The prestigious international Kyokushin tournament is one of the leading events on the youth competition calendar and once again confirms Varna as one of the world’s major centres of Kyokushin.
The tournament features competitors aged 14 to 21, who are contesting medals across various age and weight categories. Kazakhstan has the largest delegation with 76 athletes, followed by Bulgaria with 70 competitors. Strong teams have also arrived from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Japan, Brazil, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Moldova, Serbia, and many other countries from Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.
Throughout the day, the three competition tatamis host fast-paced and closely contested matches between some of the world’s most promising young Kyokushin athletes. The tournament provides an outstanding opportunity for emerging talents to test themselves at the highest international level, gain valuable competitive experience, and demonstrate their abilities before leading international referees and instructors.
World Cup “Varna” is among the most prestigious international Kyokushin tournaments for young athletes and traditionally brings together future champions from different continents. Its high sporting standard and broad international participation have established the event as one of the most significant fixtures on the global Kyokushin calendar.
The tournament is part of the anniversary 20th International Summer Martial Arts Camp, taking place from July 5 to 12 near Varna and bringing together more than 1,600 participants from 49 countries. In addition to the competition programme, the camp features specialised training sessions in Kyokushin karate, kickboxing, and iaido, led by world-renowned masters, legendary K-1 champions, and internationally recognised instructors.
