General informations
Discover the Official Teaser of the 2026 FISU World University Handball Championship !
7 Oct
FRANCE LAND OF HANDBALL AND MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS
France, a proud host of the world’s greatest international sporting events, is honoured to organize the 2026 FISU World University Handball Championship.
With 27 editions of the World University Championship already held since its inception, and a deep-rooted handball culture, our country is fully prepared to welcome teams from all five continents under the best possible conditions.
BORDEAUX, WORLD-RENOWNED CITY AT THE HEART OF AN EXCEPTIONAL REGION
Bordeaux, the jewel of southwestern France, captivates with its elegance and art of living. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city perfectly blends historical charm and modern flair, with its lively quays, cobbled streets, and 18th-century architecture. As the world capital of wine, it is surrounded by prestigious vineyards—from Saint-Émilion to the Médoc—that have made the region famous.
Between the ocean, majestic dunes like the Dune of Pilat, pine forests, and picturesque villages, the Bordeaux region offers a unique quality of life, rich in culture, nature, and gastronomy.
Handball is more than just a sport in France — it’s a shared passion at every level.
Through the organization of this event, we aim to offer more than just a championship: a truly enriching human, cultural, and sporting experience, with the goal of leaving a strong and lasting legacy on all participants.
A SUSTAINABLE EVENT AT THE HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We aim to make this WUC a sustainable, eco-friendly event, deeply rooted within the Bordeaux university campus.
One of our key strengths will be the centralized location, with competition venues, accommodation, transports and catering facilities all within close proximity—ensuring an efficient and cohesive experience for all participants.
JOIN US IN FRANCE IN 2026!
News
Schedules
Wednesday, 17 June
Arrivals starting
08:00
Saturday, 20 June
Opening Ceremony
16:00
– 18:00
Competition Start
18:00
Explore
Partners
President’s Welcome Message
Dear student-athletes, dear friends,
I am delighted to welcome you to Pessac, for the 2026 FISU World University Championship Handball
I would like to address you first, dear student-athletes, who are and who always be the beating heart of FISU.
Competing at the World University Championships is a career highlight for many of you. For others, it is a step up to the next level of performance. What you all have in common is your love of sport, your commitment, your fair play and your respect. You come together as rivals, from different places and different backgrounds, but you will almost certainly leave as friends.
Despite the challenging times we are all facing, you remind us of the special power of young people to reassure us that a better world is possible. You remind us of the need to prioritise sport, sustainability, inclusivity and healthy social exchange. FISU firmly believes that university athletes are the role models and future leaders the world needs.
Over the following 8 days, you will compete alongside some of the best student-athletes on the planet. The FISU World University Championships demand skill, athleticism, and single-minded determination to do your best. But beyond the competition, FISU urges you to have fun. May you return home with memories that will last a lifetime!
None of FISU’s events would be possible without the generosity of our hosts. I want to extend our sincere gratitude to the National University Sports Federation of France, the organisers for their dedication and the volunteers for their passion.
FISU is also grateful for the ongoing support of the International Sports Federations. Together, we aim to provide the highest level of technical excellence on and off the field of play.
I am confident that the 2026 FISU World University Championship Handball in Bordeaux will give you every opportunity to shine, to interact and to grow as people.
I wish you the best of luck!
Leonz Eder
FISU President
Nouvelle-Aquitaine University Sports League President’s Welcome Message
It is a great honor, on behalf of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine University Sports League, to welcome you to Pessac, in the heart of Bordeaux Métropole, on the occasion of the World University Handball Championship 2026. This international competition, which brings together the elite of university handball, is the result of a collective commitment and a shared passion for sport and its values.
Pessac, a dynamic and welcoming city, will this week be the stage for powerful moments of respect, solidarity, and intercultural encounters. University sport here fully embodies this spirit of openness, where each match is also an invitation to dialogue and curiosity towards others. Here, in our community, we are committed to placing people and conviviality at the heart of the event, convinced that it is as much these exchanges as the competition itself that create unforgettable memories.
We especially thank the City of Pessac for its hospitality and dedication, Bordeaux Métropole, the City of Bordeaux, our institutional and private partners, as well as the volunteers and all those who work with passion for the success of this championship. Their dedication highlights the vitality and richness of our territory.
I wish all participants to fully embrace this adventure, to give their very best on the courts, and to enjoy discovering Pessac and the Bordeaux region, renowned for their cultural heritage, hospitality, and art of living.
Welcome to Pessac, welcome to the great family of international university sport !
Léo Gerville-Réache
President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine University Sports League