The 2026 World Rowing Under 23 Championships features over 600 athletes who will compete from 23–26 July. Singles, doubles, pairs, quads, fours and eights sit alongside four lightweight events. The Para rowing programme comprises PR3 men’s and women’s singles, mixed doubles and mixed eights.
For athletes moving out of junior competition, Duisburg is the first sustained test against rowers with several seasons of international or university racing behind them. For established U23 champions, it is another chance to defend last year’s result.
Watch out for Great Britain, who topped the 2025 medal table with four golds, winning both eights, the women’s four and the women’s quad. Last year their men’s eight secured a sixth consecutive title and remains unbeaten at these championships since 2018. Can the Brits defend their big-boat grip?
Duisburg’s Next Wave: 2026 World Rowing U23 Championships Preview
Elsewhere the Greek entry includes Nikolaos Cholopoulos, a former U19 world champion in the double, who returns after challenging for the medals in the 2025 men’s single final. Dimitra Eleni Kontou, whose victories span U19 and U23 competition alongside senior international success. Kontou teams up with world and European U19 champion Eleni Diavati in the women’s double.
Home support will have plenty to cheer about as Germany have entered crews in 19 of the 20 available events.
2026 World Rowing U23 Championships
So plenty of action to follow. For live-streaming fans can turn to World Rowing’s YouTube channel. The World Rowing website and event page also contains entries, a live schedule, liveblog, and results. Also check out Row360 daily race reports and galleries.
Late July is a busy travel period for many rowing fans, read on for practical guidance on using a VPN while away from home.
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Using a VPN When Travelling
A VPN (virtual private network) sends internet traffic through a server in another country, so the connection appears to come from there. That matters for rowing fans travelling abroad during race week, because many streaming services limit access according to IP address geography. The simplest option is to check whether the official broadcaster in the country you’re visiting carries World Rowing coverage, and use that.
First, VPN use itself is legal in most countries, but getting around geo-restrictions can clash with a streaming platform’s terms of service. A provider may block VPN traffic or suspend accounts that seem to bypass location controls. Second, local laws on digital access vary by jurisdiction. In most Western countries there is no criminal issue with using a VPN, but the contractual position between you and your streaming provider is a separate question. Check the provider’s terms before you travel.
Row360 never endorses bypassing broadcast rights. A VPN should only be used to access official services, whether paid or free-to-air, while abroad. Always use legitimate platforms. Unofficial streams often breach copyright and expose viewers to malware.
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