The International Judo Federation has officially announced that the 2026 World Judo Masters will take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 18 to 20 December. The event is the second-highest competition in the IJF circuit, just below the World Championships, and is an invitation-only event featuring the top 36 ranked athletes in each weight category, with no limit on entries per country.
Gold medalists at the World Judo Masters receive 1,800 World Ranking points, silver medalists 1,440, and bronze medalists 1,080. These points also count towards qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This edition will be Dushanbe's return to the World Judo Tour calendar after the city hosted the 2024 World Junior Championships.
Dushanbe has emerged as a regular host on the World Judo Tour in recent years, staging multiple events and organising the 2024 World Junior Championships. The Tajikistan national team has produced several world-class judoka in recent years in the men's 73 kg and 90 kg categories, and is regarded as one of the leading Central Asian judo nations.
Full announcement: International Judo Federation