Junior World Table Tennis Championship is a prestigious international table tennis competition where the strongest young athletes and juniors under the ages of 15 and 19 compete. The tournament is held under the auspices of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and serves as a launching pad for future champions of junior table tennis.
Junior table tennis competition is held annually and includes a variety of events — singles and doubles matches, as well as mixed categories. The junior tournaments consist of two team events and five individual events in each age group. Young talents from around the world get a unique opportunity to showcase their skills on the global stage and gain invaluable competitive experience in table tennis.
2026 World Youth Table Tennis Championships
The 2026 World Youth Table Tennis Championships will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, from November 21 to 28. The competition will be held at Ata Sporlari Merkezi and will bring together some of the world's best young players in the U15 and U19 age categories. The programme includes team events, doubles and singles competitions.
Istanbul will host an ITTF World Championship for the first time. The tournament was originally planned to take place in Bahrain, but in 2026 the event was moved to Türkiye. The championship dates remain unchanged.
History of the Championships
The World Youth Table Tennis Championships are the leading international competition for young players. Since 2021, the programme has included two age categories — U15 and U19 — with athletes competing in team, doubles and singles events.
The tournament is considered an important step towards professional senior table tennis. Several players who competed at the World Youth Championships have gone on to become Olympic and world champions.
Interesting Facts About the World Youth Table Tennis Championships
- A Path to Senior Competition
The World Youth Championships provide an important platform for young players who later move on to the senior international level. - Two Age Categories
Since 2021, athletes have competed in the U15 and U19 categories, allowing them to face opponents of a similar age. - An International Field
Young athletes from different regions of the world take part in the championships, providing an opportunity to compare the development of youth table tennis across countries. - Team and Individual Events
The programme includes team competitions, singles and doubles events, giving athletes the opportunity to compete for several sets of medals. - New Names in the Sport
The championships regularly provide a platform for future stars of international table tennis. - Historic Achievements
In 2024, Germany's Annett Kaufmann became the first player from a non-Asian country to win gold in the U19 women's singles event. - Success of Different Countries
Although China remains one of the leading forces in youth table tennis, competition from Japan, Korea, Germany and other national teams continues to grow. - First ITTF World Championship in Türkiye
Istanbul will become the first city in Türkiye to host an ITTF World Championship. - Istanbul — A City Between Two Continents
Located between Europe and Asia, Istanbul will bring together young athletes from around the world. - The Next Step Towards Professional Sport
For many participants, the championships are an important stage in their development before moving on to senior international competitions.
Previous Championship Results
| Year | Host City | Winning Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cluj-Napoca, Romania | China |
| 2024 | Helsingborg, Sweden | China |
| 2023 | Nova Gorica, Slovenia | China |
In 2025, the team titles were shared between China, Japan and Chinese Taipei. China won several team events across the U15 and U19 categories.
2027 World Youth Table Tennis Championships
The next World Youth Table Tennis Championships after the Istanbul tournament will be held in Asunción, Paraguay. The event will take place at the SND Sports Complex. The exact dates and full list of participants will be announced later.
Keep an eye on the dates of tennis tournaments and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
