Budapest will once again become a global meeting point for the freediving community as it hosts the 36th AIDA Pool World Championships, scheduled to take place from 31 May to 6 June 2026. The Hungarian capital, with a sporting tradition deeply rooted in aquatic disciplines, will provide the stage where athletes from around the world will seek to push their limits in an environment designed for high performance and international exchange.

The event will be held at the Duna Arena, a venue that symbolizes the evolution of indoor aquatic competitions and will offer the technical conditions required for a discipline that combines precision, mental control, and physical endurance. Following a period of sustained growth, AIDA aims to consolidate this momentum with a championship that focuses not only on records, but also on the people who make them possible.

Budapest 2026: a stage worthy of a growing discipline

The selection of Budapest as host city reinforces AIDA’s intention to place its championships in locations capable of bridging the sport’s history and future. The Duna Arena, designed for world-class events, will allow athletes to compete in a safe and standardized environment, essential for a discipline where every technical detail has a direct impact on performance and safety.

This championship also follows the record-breaking success of the AIDA World Championships Wakayama 2025, which marked a turning point in participation and visibility. That precedent has raised expectations within the international community, which sees Budapest 2026 as an opportunity to consolidate the global growth of pool freediving and strengthen ties between federations, athletes, and organizers.

Athlete support at the core of the new competitive cycle

Alongside preparations for the championship, AIDA is developing a renewed athlete support programme designed to respond to the real demands of high performance. The initiative includes direct financial support, funding for national team representation, and economic backing linked to the top results achieved during the 2025 season.

This approach recognizes that sporting growth depends not only on competition itself, but also on the conditions surrounding preparation and participation. Prize money and grant systems aim to reduce barriers to access, enabling more athletes to compete on equal terms and sustain long-term sporting careers.