National federations from around the world meet this Saturday for the JJIF Congress 2026. The Congress takes place on Saturday 14 November 2026 at 11:00 at the Bab al Qsar Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the home city of the JJIF headquarters.
The final invitation was sent to all member federations on 13 October by JJIF President Panagiotis Theodoropoulos. All official documents are available on the JJIF Congress 2026 downloads page: www.ju-jitsu.sport/organization/about-us/downloads/jjif-congress-2026
How the Congress works
The Congress is the meeting of the JJIF member federations. Each member federation may send up to two delegates but has only one vote, and votes cannot be given to anyone else by proxy. Delegates must attend in person to vote. Federations can also follow the Congress online after registering in advance.
What's on the agenda
The agenda covers the work of the past year and the plans for the years ahead. Highlights include:
- the activities report 2025/26 and the financial report and audit
- the ratification of Board members, including Gregory Vallarino, re-elected Vice President representing Pan America, and Sara Paganini, appointed as a Board member
- the ratification of the 2027 Anti-Doping Rules, a key step for clean sport
- the individual licence database
- the IOC recognition process, with a focus on policies, integrity and good governance
- The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany
- the JJIF calendar for 2026 to 2028
- reports from the continental unions
The Congress will also discuss the dates and venue of the Congress 2027, which the Board will decide.
A year of growth
The Congress comes at the end of a busy season for ju-jitsu, from the World Championship in Abu Dhabi in August to the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. With The World Games 2029 on the horizon, the decisions made in Abu Dhabi will help shape the next chapter of the sport and its six disciplines: Duo, Fighting, Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza), Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi, Show and Contact.
Delegates can still find registration details and all Congress documents on the downloads page. Follow ju-jitsu.sport, @jujitsuinternational on Instagram and JJIFJuJitsu on Facebook for news from Abu Dhabi.
