A Celebration of Karate: WKF's 2025 International Competition Calendar

The season’s crescendo will be the biggest event of the year—the World Championships in Cairo, Egypt, from November 27 to 30. This grand finale will mark the pinnacle of a year-long celebration of skill, passion, and sporting excellence.

The action kicks off in the second week of January with the Karate 1-Series A tournament in Tbilisi, Georgia. This opening event sets the tone for a dynamic year ahead, launching a total of 27 international competitions under the WKF’s banner.

A key highlight of the 2025 calendar is the Karate 1-Premier League, karate’s most prestigious competition series. This year, the league will make stops in four iconic locations: Paris (France), Hangzhou (China), Cairo (Egypt), and Rabat (Morocco). The Karate 1-Premier League season will close in Rabat, where the new Grand Winners will be crowned.

A crucial part of the WKF’s international calendar, the Karate 1-Series A will also catch the attention of fans and athletes in 2025. The popular events will feature four major tournaments in Tbilisi (Georgia), Larnaca (Cyprus), Salzburg (Austria), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). These tournaments offer rising stars a chance to shine and experienced athletes an opportunity to claim crucial ranking points.

Karate’s future champions will also have their moment in the spotlight with the Karate 1-Youth League. This massive competition circuit, designed for young athletes and breaking records of attendance year after year, will visit five thrilling destinations: Fujairah (UAE), Guadalajara (Spain), Porec (Croatia), Monterrey (Mexico), and Venice (Italy). These events offer young competitors a chance to showcase their talent and build experience on the international stage.

The Road to Cairo: The 2025 World Championships

The grand event of 2025 will undoubtedly be the World Championships in Cairo, Egypt. The tournament to gather the best karatekas in the world will be preceded by a much-anticipated World Championships Qualification Phase event in Paris, France, where athletes will battle for their spot in the main competition.

The path to glory also runs through the Continental Championships, which have increased their relevance even more as they play a vital role in the qualification process for the World Championships. In 2025, the senior division Continental Championships will be held in five key locations, Yerevan, Armenia for the EKF; Monterrey, Mexico for the PKF; Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the AKF; Nouméa, New Caledonia for the OKF; and Abuja, Nigeria for the UFAK.  

Another major highlight of 2025 is karate’s presence at The World Games in Chengdu, China. This multi-sport event will shine a spotlight on the growing influence of karate within the world’s sporting landscape. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate the sport’s global appeal, its added value in multi-sport events, as well as the progress of Karate in China. Karate’s event at The World Games is scheduled from August 8 to 9.

Moreover, 2025 will feature a variety of events aimed at nurturing talent and broadening karate’s reach. These include the Continental Age-Group Championships, the record-breaking WKF Youth Camp in Porec (Croatia), and regional events like the Mediterranean Championships. Karate’s growing influence will also be felt at the Junior Pan American Games, offering young athletes additional opportunities to shine.

An Unforgettable Year of Karate

The 2025 WKF competition calendar is a testament to karate’s global growth and enduring appeal. The year will be filled with unforgettable moments, offering fans, athletes, and supporters alike the chance to look forward to a season of extraordinary competition.

In 2025, Karate will demonstrate once again its appeal and its power to unite people all over the world.

To access the full 2025 calendar CLICK HERE (select ‘year 2025’).