The International Handball Federation (IHF) has confirmed that the 2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships will take place in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, from 23 to 28 June 2026.  

Following the decision by the IHF Council on 18 June 2025, the organising rights were awarded to the Croatian Handball Federation, marking the first time in history that Croatia will host the flagship global event in beach handball.  

The 2026 World Championships will bring together the world’s best men’s and women’s national teams to compete for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles. With matches scheduled in Zagreb, on the picturesque Lake Jarun, players and fans alike can expect a festival of sport, culture, and fair-play, further strengthening Croatia’s growing reputation as a leader in international beach handball.  

The 2026 edition will be the sixth time the IHF Beach Handball World Championships are staged in Europe, following previous events in Spain (2008), Türkiye (2010), Hungary (2016), Russia (2018), and Greece (2022). Details regarding qualification pathways and the full list of participating nations will be announced in the next months, with nine teams already qualified in the women's event and 10 teams in the men's event.  

With Europe once again at the centre of the beach handball world, fans can mark their calendars for 23 to 28 June 2026  in Zagreb, where the next champions of the sand will be crowned.  

2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships – qualified teams
as of 25 September 2025

Women’s competition

1. Hosts: Croatia
2. Reigning World Champions: Germany
3. AHF (Asia) Continental Place: Vietnam, 1st – Asian Championship
4. AHF: Philippines, 2nd – Asian Championship
5. EHF (Europe) Continental Place: Spain, 1st – EURO
6. EHF: Norway, 2nd – EURO
7. EHF: Netherlands, 4th – EURO
8. EHF: Denmark, 5th – EURO
9. EHF: Greece, 6th – EURO
10. CAHB (Africa) Continental Place
11. OCHF (Oceania) Continental Place
12. SCAHC (South and Central America) Continental Place
13. SCAHC (South and Central America) Continental Place
14. SCAHC (South and Central America) Continental Place
15. NACHC (North America and the Caribbean) Continental Place
16. NACHC (North America and the Caribbean) Continental Place

Men’s competition

1. Hosts and Reigning World Champions: Croatia
2. AHF: Oman, 1st – Asian Championship
3. AHF: Islamic Republic of Iran, 1st – Asian Championship
4. EHF: Germany, 1st – EURO
5. EHF: Spain, 2nd – EURO
6. EHF: Hungary, 4th – EURO
7. EHF: France, 5th – EURO
8. EHF: Portugal, 6th – EURO
9. EHF: Denmark, 7th – EURO
10. EHF: Italy, 8th – EURO
11. CAHB (Africa) Continental Place
12. OCHF (Oceania) Continental Place
13. SCAHC (South and Central America) Continental Place
14. SCAHC (South and Central America) Continental Place
15. NACHC (North America and the Caribbean) Continental Place
16. NACHC (North America and the Caribbean) Continental Place