Barbarino said Euro 2026 in Munich “will be the biggest” in the event’s history
In an exclusive conversation with MASTKD, European Taekwondo Union (ETU) Secretary General Antonio Barbarino said the 2026 European Senior Championships (G4) in Munich, Germany, had been designed as an unprecedented edition in scale and projection, with organization aligned to World Taekwondo (WT) standards.
In an exclusive conversation with MASTKD, European Taekwondo Union (ETU) Secretary General Antonio Barbarino said the 2026 European Senior Championships (G4) in Munich, Germany, had been designed as an unprecedented edition in scale and projection, with organization aligned to World Taekwondo (WT) standards.
“I can promise it will be the biggest and most exciting event we have ever organized.”
Barbarino explained that Euro 2026 will take place in Munich and that his role will also be linked to the local organizing structure, as he is part of the leadership of the host federation.
“The main tournament for the European Taekwondo Union in 2026 is, of course, the European Championships G4, which will be held in Munich, Germany. And I am also Vice President of the German Taekwondo Federation, responsible for this tournament as well.”
From MASTKD’s editorial perspective, the message rested on two pillars: organizational capacity and technical standardization under the WT framework. In that context, Barbarino stressed that ETU works in permanent coordination to stay updated with regulatory adjustments across the international circuit.
“This is not a problem, because we are very close to WT. We are up to date and I don’t see any problem. We will fulfill the rules and we will be top level.”
As an additional note, MASTKD observed that the conversation also highlighted the teamwork that characterizes the continental structure—an institutional dynamic reflected within ETU and led by Sakis Pragalos, ETU President, in the strategic leadership of the project.
Barbarino also addressed the planning change that moved the European Championships from an initially considered host city to its final confirmation in Munich. According to him, the decision aimed to avoid a calendar conflict that could have affected teams and athletes.
“It was decided to do it in Nuremberg. But then we had a problem with overlapping dates. We solved it with the Italian Federation and the German Federation. Finally, we moved it.”
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For MASTKD, that segment reinforced a political-sporting principle that often guides ETU decisions: protecting the competition and minimizing consequences for the main protagonists. Barbarino summarized it as a clear priority.
“The most important thing is that there was no damage for the European athletes, and this was the main aim of ETU and the other organizations.”
The 2026 European Senior Championships (ETU)—a G4 event—will be held in Munich, Germany, at BMW Park, from May 11 to 14, 2026. This year’s edition will include Senior Kyorugi and Para Taekwondo, marking the European Championships’ return to Munich after decades, in a historic host city for the continental sport.
MAS: Media About Sport.
TKD: Taekwondo.
MASTKD: Worldwide Leader on Taekwondo Information.
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