USA Judo Awards Spokane the 2026 Junior Olympic National Championships

USA Judo has awarded its 2026 Junior Olympic National Championships to Spokane, Washington, returning to the destination for the first time since the 2023 USA Judo Senior National Championships. The 2026 event is expected to attract 900 athletes, aged 5–20, for the competition, which will be staged at The Podium Powered by STCU, June 19–21.

The USA Judo Junior Olympics will crown national champions in numerous divisions and weight categories and also serves as the trial event for the 2026 Cadet World Championships (for athletes age 14–17) in Guayaquil, Ecuador and the 2026 Junior World Championships (for athletes under the age of 21) in Amman, Jordan.

“We are very excited to return to Spokane next year for our amazing Junior Olympic National Championships,” said USA Judo CEO Corinne Shigemoto. “The city of Spokane, Spokane Sports, and the fantastic venue were the perfect hosts for our Senior National Championships in 2023, and we look forward to some great competition from our young stars and for our members to experience all that Spokane has to offer.”

The Podium is a 135,000-square-foot multisport complex overlooking downtown Spokane, featuring flexible competition space and the operational capacity to host championship events year-round.

“Athletes and families bring an incredible energy to Spokane, and we are proud to welcome USA Judo back to The Podium,” said Ashley Blake, CEO of Spokane Sports. “This event gives young competitors the chance to shine on a national stage. Spokane is a city shows up for sports, and we look forward to building on our partnership and creating a memorable Junior Olympic National Championships for everyone involved.”