The wait is almost over. On Friday, the 2026 European Youth Championships get underway in Gondomar, Portugal, where Europe’s brightest young table tennis talents will compete for ten days of action in one of the flagship events on the ETTU calendar.
The opening five days will be dedicated to the team events before the focus switches to the singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions from 15 to 19 July. A total of 39 associations will compete in the Under 19 Boys Teams, while 34 nations have entered the Under 19 Girls Teams and Under 15 Girls Teams, with 37 teams contesting the Under 15 Boys event.
The team competitions promise compelling storylines across all four categories. In the Under 19 Boys, Romania arrives chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive European title, but hosts Portugal will hope home support can help them go one better than last year’s silver medal. France, Poland, Slovakia and Spain are also expected to be among the leading contenders.
France begin the Under 19 Girls event aiming for a third successive crown, while Romania, Poland and host nation Portugal all look capable of mounting a serious challenge. Last year’s finalists Ukraine, despite entering as the tenth seeds, remain one of the teams to watch.
The Under 15 competitions signal the arrival of Europe’s next generation of stars. Germany seek a fourth consecutive Under 15 Girls Team title despite a refreshed squad, while Czechia, Poland, France and Romania headline a highly competitive field. In the Under 15 Boys event, the picture is even more open. Defending champions Italy have undergone major changes, leaving top seeds Spain, Türkiye, Germany and Poland among the favourites to battle for gold.
Several players also arrive in Gondomar full of confidence after impressive performances at the recent European Under 21 Championships in Cluj-Napoca. Danilo FASO, Bianca MEI ROSU, Tiago ABIODUN, Robert ISTRATE, Leana HOCHART, Koharu ITAGAKI and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ are among the names looking to continue their excellent form on the youth stage.
The Multiusos de Gondomar is no stranger to major table tennis events, having previously hosted the Europe Top 16 Cup, the European Under 21 Championships and the ITTF World Team Olympic Qualification Tournament. Now, another generation of Europe’s future stars is ready to write its own chapter in the venue’s history.
As the first balls are struck on Friday morning, history, home hopes and the pursuit of European glory will combine to launch what promises to be another unforgettable edition of the European Youth Championships
