The 2026 Sprint World Orienteering Championships have concluded in Genoa. However, the closing ceremony marked more than just the end of this year’s World Championships: with the handover of the IOF flag, the World Championships baton was symbolically passed to Hungary.
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The Baton Is in Our Hands: After Genoa, Veszprém Is Next
A delegation from the WOC 2027 organising team attended the World Championships in Genoa. The visit formed an important part of our preparations, providing first-hand experience of the delivery of the competitions, the operation of the arenas and behind-the-scenes processes, as well as the high-quality services provided for athletes, teams, the media and spectators.
The lessons learned from what we saw, our personal discussions and the experiences shared by the Italian organisers will all be incorporated into our work over the coming months.
At the closing ceremony of the World Championships in Genoa, Miklós Mets, Chair of the WOC 2027 Organising Committee, received the IOF flag. The moment represented both an honour and a responsibility: Hungary will host the next World Orienteering Championships.
The 2027 World Orienteering Championships will take place from 9 to 14 August in Veszprém and the Bakony–Balaton region. The programme will include the Middle Distance Qualification and Final, the Long Distance and the Relay. Following Zalaegerszeg in 1983 and Miskolc in 2009, Hungary will welcome the world’s best orienteers for the third time.
The Road to WOC 2027
Preparations began in June this year with the Hungarian Middle Distance and Relay Championships and the accompanying WOC 2027 training camp. Over the coming year, further competitions and official training camps will provide athletes with opportunities to prepare for the World Championships:
- 3–4 October 2026: Honvéd Cup – Gold World Ranking Event
- 3–6 October 2026: Official WOC 2027 Training Camp
- 2–4 April 2027: Honvéd Cup – Gold World Ranking Event
- 2–6 April 2027: Official WOC 2027 Training Camp
- 15–18 July 2027: WOC 2027 Selection Races
These preparatory events will give athletes the opportunity to become familiar with Veszprém, terrain similar to that of the World Championships, and the style of the mapmakers and course setters.
The journey from Genoa to Veszprém has now entered a new phase. The flag is in our hands and preparations continue – in August 2027, Hungary will once again become the centre of the orienteering world.