Nové pravidlá a podmienky Karate1 v r.2026

WKF Executive Committee has approved the new set of rules and conditions for the 2026 season of the Karate 1 events

- (Premier League (LINK)

- Series A (LINK)

- Youth League (LINK). 

A summary of major changes (LINK) has been prepared as well for ease of reference, although you will find listed below key updates. 

PREMIER LEAGUE

• Grand Winners Prize:
  • Increase from €5,000 to €10,000
• Registration Fee:
  • Updated to €200 for all athletes
• Online Registration Phases:
  • 1st Phase: Top 1–32 ranked athletes (2 weeks) and host NF athlete in case of not having any athlete in the TOP 32 of the event ranking nor athlete in the Event Ranking.
    • Week 1: Registration open to National Federations
    • Week 2: Registration open to individual athletes ranked 1–32
  • 2nd Phase: Registration open to athletes ranked 1–64 (2 weeks)
  • 3rd Phase: Registration open to athletes ranked 1–100 (2 weeks)
• Coaches:
  • Accreditation cards must be collected during the coach briefing; failure to attend the briefing will result in no accreditation being issued.
• Sports Presentation:
  • Unified WKF branding elements to be updated
  • LED Screens, also for elimination rounds
  • Lighting Conditions: enhanced conditions during the finals for professional broadcasting

SERIES A

• Registration Fee:
  • €125 for all individual categories (removal of tiered system)
  • €250 Kata Teams 
• Registration procedure:
  • Replacement List available for justified cancellations in full categories, up to 7 days before the event.
  • Withdrawals: €300 penalty fee for athletes absent without justification or accreditation, applied to their next WKF event.
• Competition Format:
  • Video Review System implemented in all phases, including elimination rounds.
  • TOP 4 athletes in the WKF Ranking will be seeded for the draw.
• Coaches:
  • Accreditation cards must be collected during the coach briefing; failure to attend the briefing will result in no accreditation being issued.
• Sport Presentation:
  • Unified WKF branding elements to be updated
• Communication:
  • Official live streaming of all events on the WKF channel
  • Enhanced social media coverage to increase visibility for athletes, events, and host cities.

YOUTH LEAGUE

• Registration Fee:
  • €90 for all athletes across categories
• Online Registration Phases:
  • Phase 1:Registration by National Federations only (max 1 athlete per category) and registration for TOP 10 Athletes in the Junior and Cadet WKF Ranking.
  • Phase 2:
    • 1st window: Kata (all age groups)
    • 2nd window: U14 Kumite
    • 3rd window: Cadet Kumite
    • 4th window: Junior Kumite
    • Afterwards: Open registration with no restrictions
  • Replacement List available for justified cancellations in full categories, up to 7 days before the event.
  • Withdrawals: €300 penalty fee for athletes absent without justification or accreditation, applied to their next WKF event.
• Competitor Quotas:
  • Kumite:
    • Junior & Cadet: max 96 athletes per category
    • U14: max 64 athletes per category
  • Kata:
    • Junior & Cadet: max 128 athletes per category
    • U14: max 64 athletes per category
• Competition Format:
  • TOP 4 athletes in the ranking seeded for the draw in Junior and Cadet categories
• Sports Presentation:
  • Unified WKF branding elements to be updated
• Communication:
  • Official live streaming of all events on the WKF channel
  • Enhanced social media coverage to increase visibility for athletes, events, and host cities.