Publication date: 24 Jul 2025
The Canoeing World Championships are the premier international competition for flatwater kayak and canoe racing, organized by the International Canoe Federation (ICF). The first men’s event took place in 1938, while the women’s event began in 1954. Since then, the championships have become a cornerstone of the global rowing calendar, determining the strongest athletes and allocating Olympic licences.
Find more details on the official ICF website.
2025 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2025 Canoeing World Championships will take place in Munich, Germany. Scheduled for August 20th to 24th, 2025, the event will use the Olympic Rowing Course built for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Around 1,000 athletes are expected to take part. Competitors will represent more than 60 countries worldwide.
The program includes races in kayaks and canoes. Distances range from 200 meters to 5 kilometers. The schedule also features paracanoe events for athletes with disabilities.
The 2025 Championships are a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Winners and podium finishers secure quota places for their national federations.
Participants and Favorites
Leading national teams set to compete include:
- Hungary: Multiple-time leader in the medal standings, particularly strong in women’s kayaking.
- Germany: Host nation and traditionally strong across all disciplines.
- New Zealand: One of the strongest teams in shorter distance events, notably in women’s kayaking.
- Canada and China: Consistently contend for medals in sprint and pair races.
Furthermore, among the stars, you’ll witness current Olympic champions and medallists such as Lisa Carrington (New Zealand), Sebastian Brendel (Germany), Sandor Totka (Hungary) and other top athletes.
Tournament History
The first World Championships took place in Vaxholm, Sweden, in 1938. They have been held almost annually ever since, except for wartime periods and certain Olympic seasons when titles were jointly awarded. Speaking about women’s events, they were introduced in 1954. Today, the tournament combines sprint, paracanoe, and occasionally marathon races on separate days.
Tournament Winners Over the Past Three Years
| Year | Venue | Medal Count Leader |
| 2024 | Uzbekistan | Czechia |
| 2023 | Germany | Hungary |
| 2022 | Canada | Germany |
2026 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The venue for the 2026 Canoeing Sprint World Championships has not yet been announced by ICF. Meanwhile, further information is expected near the end of 2025.
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