Roundnet Worlds set for Paris in 2026, governance vote underway

The International Roundnet Federation’s profile now points squarely to Paris, with Worlds 2026 set for September 2-6 at Parc du Tremblay near the French capital. The same profile also carries the line “Paving the way to the Olympics,” putting the sport’s next championship in the middle of a larger push for legitimacy and international reach.

That championship push is running alongside a governance cycle that was already underway. An IRF vote post set a public review period from June 9-25, 2026, followed by an NGB voting window from June 25-July 4, 2026. The proposals listed included a Misconduct Rules Amendment and an Illegal Substances & Materials Clarification, the kind of rulebook changes that can shape eligibility, national-team standards and how evenly the sport is administered from one federation to the next.

The IRF’s NGB Development initiative adds another layer to that picture. Roundnet’s world championship is no longer just about finding a champion; it is also tied to building the national-governing-body structure that will determine how countries are recognized and how teams move through the system. For elite players, that matters well before they reach France, because the route into Worlds depends on the rules governing who can enter, who can be selected and how those decisions are made.

Paris will also inherit a championship that has already expanded beyond a niche gathering. British Roundnet said 32 countries gathered for the second ever Roundnet World Championships at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford in 2024, while a Spikeball and IRF video description put the Guildford field at 34 countries. Either way, the event had already moved into a true international scale, and the 2024 Worlds package included a 12-page souvenir programme, a fan zone with DJs and food, broadcasted matches and a donation to Guildford Action.

That history helps explain why national programs are already treating Paris as a selection target. Roundnet Belgium says its goal is to build the strongest team to represent Belgium at the Roundnet World Championships 2026 in Paris, with players able to earn a place through national and international tournaments and then a National Camp invitation. The message across those programs is the same: the road to Worlds is getting more formal, and the rules being written now will help decide who gets there.