Today, 20 June 2026, marks the sixth edition of ‘International Beach Handball Day’, a special day which recognises, celebrates and pays tribute to the anniversary of the first organised, rules-based beach handball match played.

That match took place on Ponza island, Italy on 20 June 1992, and International Beach Handball Day is an opportunity to celebrate everything about the sport while remembering its roots.

International Beach Handball Day was officially launched at the 2022 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championship in Greece, on the 30th anniversary of that match in Ponza.

2026 has been a great showcase already for just how far the sport has come since 1992, with the two stages of the 2026 IHF Beach Handball Global Tour already being held, plus a number of continental championships already taking place.

And so much more is to come, with the 2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships taking place in Zagreb, Croatia next week and a number of continental events taking place later this year, plus the BHGT Finals stage with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal in between.

Currently, numerous national teams are already at the world championship venue at Jarun Lake going through their final preparations for the global event, and the world-renowned ebt Finals are also underway in Italy.

To celebrate this special day, whether you are a fan, player, coach, referee, official, support staff or anybody with a love or involvement for the game, tell us at the IHF what beach handball means to you on social media by using the hashtag #beachhandball.

And Giampiero Masi, Chair of the IHF Beach Handball Working Group has a special message for you all:

Dear athletes, coaches, referees, officials, volunteers, partners and beach handball enthusiasts around the world, 
  
Today, on International Beach Handball Day 2026, we come together to celebrate a sport that has grown from a visionary idea on the sands of Italy into a truly global movement that unites people across cultures, continents, and generations. 
  
This day is a celebration of the values that define beach handball: respect, teamwork, innovation, fair play, and friendship. These values are reflected every time athletes step onto the sand, compete with passion, and demonstrate the unique spirit that makes our sport so special. 
  
Since the first organised beach handball match in 1992, our community has worked tirelessly to develop and promote the game. Thanks to the dedication of national federations, clubs, coaches, referees, volunteers, and players, beach handball has reached new audiences and inspired countless young people to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle. 
  
Now, here in 2026, we celebrate International Beach Handball Day at a particularly exciting moment. 

As the global beach handball family gathers for the IHF Beach Handball World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, we are reminded of how far our sport has come and how bright its future can be. 

Croatia 2026 represents not only the highest level of competition but also an opportunity to showcase the energy, skill, and inclusiveness that characterise beach handball with all six continental federations involved: Africa (CAHB), Europe (EHF), North America and the Caribbean (NACHC), Oceania (OCHF), Asia (AHF) and South and Central America (SCAHC).
  
As we look ahead, our mission remains clear: to continue expanding opportunities for participation, strengthening development programmes, supporting athletes and officials and bringing beach handball to new communities around the world.

Together, we must ensure that future generations inherit a sport that is accessible, sustainable, and recognised for its unique contribution to the global sporting landscape. 
  
On behalf of the International Handball Federation and the IHF Beach Handball Working Group, I would like to thank every person who contributes to our sport.

Your commitment, enthusiasm, and belief in beach handball make our continued progress possible. 
  
Let us use this day to celebrate our achievements, honour our pioneers and inspire the next generation. Most importantly, let us continue working together to advance the sport we all love. 
  
I wish everyone around the world a successful and memorable International Beach Handball Day 2026. 
  
Enjoy the celebration!
  
About International Beach Handball Day

The idea of acknowledging the special moment in the sport was originally conceived by IHF Beach Handball Working Group member Sasa Kuburovic, with the purpose of shining a light on the sport and celebrating all of those involved in its foundation, currently involved and in its future.

International Beach Handball Day will complement the annual International Handball Week which was launched in 2020 and runs from 12 to 18 July every year in homage to the founding of the IHF on 12 July 1946.