2026 Men's European Water Polo Championships

The Men's European Water Polo Championships 2026 return to one of the sport's most iconic cities as Europe's best national teams gather in Belgrade, Serbia from 10 to 25 January 2026 for a landmark edition of the tournament. Watch for free on Eurovision Sport.

• Location: Belgrade, Serbia
• Dates: 10-25 January 2026
• Competition: Men's European Water Polo Championships
• Teams: 16 teams
• Streaming: Live and free on Eurovision Sport

Water Polo Schedule: Belgrade 2026

All match times listed below are local time in Belgrade (CET) and are subject to change.

Date	Match Start Times
10 January 2026	Group Stage: Israel v Spain - 12:45 France v Hungary - 15:15 Malta v Montenegro - 18:00 Netherlands v Serbia - 20:30
11 January 2026	Group Stage: Türkiye v Italy - 12:45 Romania v Slovakia - 15:15 Slovenia v Croatia - 18:00 Greece v Georgia - 20:30
12 January 2026	Group Stage: Malta v France - 12:45 Hungary v Montenegro - 15:15 Netherlands v Israel - 18:00 Spain v Serbia - 20:30
13 January 2026	Group Stage: Georgia v Croatia - 12:45 Slovenia v Greece - 15:15 Slovakia v Italy - 18:00 Romania v Türkiye - 20:30
14 January 2026	Group Stage: Malta v Hungary - 12:30 Netherlands v Spain - 15:15 France v Montenegro - 18:00 Israel v Serbia - 20:30
15 January 2026	Group Stage: Türkiye v Slovakia - 12:45 Romania v Italy - 15:15 Slovenia v Georgia - 18:00 Greece v Croatia - 20:30
16-21 January 2026	Second Group Stage
22 January 2026	Classification Matches
23 January 2026	1st Semi Final - 17:00 2nd Semi Final - 20:30
25 January 2026	Bronze Medal Match - 17:00 Gold Medal Match - 20:30

About the European Water Polo Championships

The Men's European Water Polo Championships represent the highest level of continental competition in the sport, bringing together Europe's strongest national teams.

First held in 1926, the championships have played a central role in shaping international water polo and have historically served as a proving ground for Olympic and world champions. The 2026 edition marks the 100 year anniversary of the championships.

For this edition, European Aquatics has introduced a new competition format featuring a second group stage and a streamlined knockout phase (only semifinals and medal games) to increase match intensity while allowing more recovery time for athletes. This will be the second edition to have different hosts for the women's competition, which will be held in Funchal, Portugal from 26 January to 5 February 2026.

Coming into the 2026 championships, Türkiye have qualified for the first time in six years, and Germany failed to qualify on merit for the first time.

The Belgrade Arena Water Polo Venue

Belgrade is widely regarded as one of the homes of water polo, and the Belgrade Arena provides a fitting stage for this historic championship.

The Serbian capital has hosted multiple major aquatic events, including European and world-level tournaments, and is renowned for its knowledgeable crowds and intense match atmosphere. This will be the third time the competition has been held in Belgrade following 2006 and 2016. Serbia's deep water polo heritage ensures packed stands and high-energy sessions throughout the competition.

Best Water Polo Countries to Watch

Serbia

Hosts Serbia enter the championships backed by home support and a deep tradition of success at European, World and Olympic level. They have won gold at the European Championships 5 times, most recently in 2018. Their game is built around physical defence, disciplined structure, and elite shooting from distance.

Hungary

Hungary arrive in Belgrade with one of the most tactically sophisticated teams in world water polo. They top the overall medal table for this event with 9 Olympic golds, 4 World Championship golds, and 13 European Championship gold medals. Known for their fluid attacking movement and intelligent use of space, Hungary consistently produce results at major championships. Hungary's blend of experience and technical excellence makes them a serious contender for gold.

Spain

Spain have firmly established themselves among Europe's elite over the past decade. They won both the World Championship and World Cup in 2025 and they are the reigning champions coming into this championship. Their athletic style and overall cohesion makes them difficult to break down over the course of a long championship.

Recap: Men's Water Polo European Championship 2024

The previous championships were held in Dubrovnik and Zagreb, Croatia from 4-16 January 2024, and showcased the depth and competitiveness of European water polo.

Spain claimed the European title, while hosts Croatia won silver and Italy won bronze to round out the podium. Nikolay Bonev was named Most Valuable Player as the top scorer, and Marko Bijac won the Best Goalkeeper award.

Watch Water Polo Championships for Free on Eurovision Sport

Fans can watch the Men's European Water Polo Championships 2026 live and free on Eurovision Sport, subject to broadcast restrictions, alongside a wide range of other aquatic events.

More aquatics available on Eurovision Sport include:

• World Water Polo Championships
• Women's Water Polo World Cup
• European Short Course Swimming Championships
• Swimming World Cup
• Open Water and High Diving Swimming World Cup

Stream live events, full replays and highlights anytime, anywhere on Eurovision Sport.