Competition climbing has never been bigger, and 2026 brings a landmark season. Following the rebranding of the International Federation of Sport Climbing to World Climbing in late 2025, the circuit now runs as the World Climbing Series — and it's coming to some of the sport's most iconic cities. Here's what to know and how to follow along.

What's new for 2026

The 2026 World Climbing Series is the 38th edition of the international competition circuit, the first under the new World Climbing name. The season features events across bouldering, lead, and speed disciplines, held in cities around the world from spring through autumn.

The stops to watch

The calendar spans Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with the season's final ever-first stop reaching new ground. For European fans, several rounds land close to home — including events in Prague, Innsbruck, Bern, and Madrid, putting world-class climbing within reach of fans across Central Europe.

The three disciplines explained

  • Bouldering: Athletes solve short, powerful problems on a low wall with no rope — pure problem-solving under pressure.
  • Lead: Climbers go as high as they can on a long, sustained route, with the rope clipped as they climb.
  • Speed: Two athletes race head-to-head up a standardised 15-metre wall — over in seconds, decided by milliseconds.

How to watch

Most rounds are streamed online, and the live atmosphere at an event is something else entirely. If a stop lands near you, going in person is the best possible introduction to how high the sport's ceiling has risen — and great inspiration for your own climbing.

From spectator to climber

Watching the best in the world is the perfect spark to get on the wall yourself. The good news: every pro started on beginner holds, just like you. If a competition fires you up, channel it into your next session.

Find a gym near a tour stop — or anywhere. Explore climbing gyms on climbing.place →

2026 is a landmark year for competition climbing. Whether you watch from the stands or your sofa, let it inspire your own next move.