The International Handball Federation (IHF) is pleased to announce that the IHF Council has decided on 2 March 2026 to award the organisation rights of the 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship to the People’s Republic of China and the 2027 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship to North Macedonia.

The 2026 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship will take place from 24 June to 5 July 2026 in the city of Jinzhong. This marks the fourth edition hosted in Asia, following events in the Republic of Korea (1985, 2010) and the People’s Republic of China itself (1999). China recently hosted the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship with resounding success, setting multiple attendance records, including a peak of 5,680 spectators, which set the record for the competition.

 

This edition will feature once again 32 national teams divided into eight groups of four, with the top two from each advancing to the main round, a global showcase for emerging female talents. This will be the third consecutive edition of the competition with 32 teams at the start.

North Macedonia brings proven expertise as host, having organised the 2022 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship, the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, and the 2007 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship. 

 

The 2027 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, scheduled between 23 June and 4 July 2027, will similarly unite 32 teams in a high-stakes battle for junior supremacy, with the teams being divided into eight groups of four teams each, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the main round.