From June 20 to 27, 2026, the town of Pessac, in the heart of Bordeaux Métropole, will vibrate to the rhythm of international handball by hosting the World University Handball Championship, organized under the aegis of the International University Sports Federation (FISU). FISU Communiqué
This world-class event, organized and managed by the French University Sports Federation (FFSU) and its Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional League, will bring together 16 national university teams, with perfect parity: 8 women’s teams and 8 university teams. masculine. For a week, the best university nations will compete in a high-level competition, a symbol of sporting excellence and cultural diversity. This is the third time that France will host the World University Handball Championships, after the editions of Paris in 1980 (men’s only) and Clermont-Ferrand in 2000 (women’s only).
An international sporting event in the heart of the metropolis and the Bordeaux campus.
This event constitutes a unique opportunity to highlight local know-how in terms of organization
sports, as well as the richness of the university and associative fabric of the region.
All matches will take place on two competition sites:
- the Bellegrave room in Pessac, usual home of the Stade Pessacais Union Club Handball women’s team, which plays in the 2nd national division. This is where the two grand finals will take place on June 27.
- SMART, a unique sports and technological infrastructure in the region, an emblematic place for the dynamism of the University of Bordeaux. SMART will host the opening ceremony on June 20.
16 teams, 11 countries, 3 continents.
Eleven nations in total will compete in this Championship. Who will succeed Spain, author of the girls/boys double during the previous edition in 2024, which they played at home in Antequera? Will France, women’s silver medalist and men’s bronze medalist in 2024, manage to put its name at the top of the list?
LIST OF PARTICIPATING TEAMS
The participating delegations, made up of high-level student-athletes, will make this event a true place for international exchanges and intercultural meetings. Beyond the competition, a week of activities, meetings and sharing. Alongside the competitions, numerous activities will be offered:
A “WUC†village in the heart of the campus, designed as a living space open to delegations and students of the
Bordeaux campus. A strong academic dimension, with a specific schedule for the week around three ready-to-use workshops: awareness of refereeing, 4-a-side handball sports tournament and mini-reporters with interviews with players from the national teams.
Varied sporting activities, ranging from laser run to beach volleyball, including 4-a-side handball, pétanque, archery, handball precision and strength workshops, as well as para-sport activities. Also, a round table around physical preparation in handball.
Also a real place of relaxation and atmosphere, with a bodega run by student associations, a fan zone for the broadcast of Football World Cup matches, festive evenings…
Finally, a heritage and transmission project, carried out by STAPS students and in conjunction with the City of Pessac, to offer
educational and sporting activities that go beyond just competition time.
Collective mobilization.
This event is made possible thanks to the joint mobilization of the State, local and territorial authorities,
academic world, the sports movement, and the numerous volunteers who will contribute, each at their own level, to its
succès.
practical information
Dates : from June 20 to 27, 2026
Places : Salle Bellegrave Pessac – Bordeaux Métropole / SMART of the University of Bordeaux
Site web : handball2026.fisu.net
Instagram : @fisuhandball
