LIÈGE, BELGIUM – The global Vovinam community is set to turn its eyes to Liège, Belgium, as the 7th EVVF European Vovinam Championship 2026 prepares to welcome athletes, coaches, referees and delegations from across the continent. Regarded as the largest Vovinam gathering in Europe, the championship marks a landmark moment in the history of the European Vovinam Viet Vo Dao Federation (EVVF) since its establishment in 2010.
According to the Organizing Committee, the championship will officially take place from 30 October to 1 November 2026 at the d’Awans Sports Hall in Liège, Belgium.
What makes the 2026 edition particularly historic is its unprecedented unified format. For the first time, Junior and Senior athletes will compete within a single championship event, bringing together all age divisions under one roof. Previous EVVF championships had traditionally separated youth and adult competitions; this year, however, Europe’s Vovinam family will gather in one shared arena of performance, exchange and solidarity.
To date, EVVF has successfully organized nine major continental competitions, including six senior championships and three junior championships. The upcoming event in Belgium therefore represents far more than another edition of the tournament calendar. It stands as a symbolic milestone for European Vovinam—one that strengthens intergenerational connection, creates a broader platform for sporting excellence, and fosters deeper bonds between young athletes and seasoned masters.
Reflecting on the spirit of the championship, Dr. Trần Đình Du, EVVF Vice President and Head of the Refereeing Commission, emphasized the values that define the event: “A championship is, of course, a place of competition. Medals will be won and lost, and every athlete will feel the pressure of the moment. Yet in the spirit of Vovinam, while we face each other as opponents on the tatami, we remain one family at every other time. We compete with intensity, and we support with sincerity. We aim for performance, but never at the expense of respect—whether you are an athlete, a referee, a coach, or a supporter. I would therefore like to thank the AVVBF for welcoming Europe to Belgium with professionalism, warmth, and dedication—and for giving all of us the opportunity to grow closer”.
Host nation Belgium, located at the heart of Northwestern Europe, together with the historic city of Liège in the Wallonia region, is preparing to welcome international delegations in a setting that combines competitive energy with rich cultural heritage. Liège is not only an important economic and industrial centre along the Meuse River, but also a city renowned for its striking medieval architecture, distinguished museums and the iconic Liège-Guillemins railway station—one of the architectural landmarks of modern Belgium. The championship will therefore offer athletes not only a stage for competition, but also a memorable cultural experience beyond the tatami.
The 2026 championship is hosted by the Association de Vovinam Viet Vo Dao Belge Francophone (AVVBF), under the leadership of a newly appointed and highly committed executive team: Master Christophe Dufour as President, Master Olivier Lauria as Vice President and Technical Director, and Master Tri Dinh Debouny as Secretary General, with the support of the local authorities of Awans.
For EVVF leadership, the upcoming championship represents both an organizational challenge and an opportunity to further elevate the sport’s profile in Europe. Master Macovei Florin, President of EVVF, expressed strong confidence in the host team and the scale of the event: “We are expecting a championship that is as big and interesting as it is complex and that will once again test the passion, enthusiasm and skill of the Belgian organizing team”.
With careful preparations already underway—from venue readiness and technical planning to event operations and international coordination—the 7th EVVF European Vovinam Championship 2026 is expected to be far more than a medal competition. It will serve as a powerful platform to reaffirm the vitality, international reach and enduring values of Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao, while continuing to strengthen the position of Vietnamese martial arts on the global sporting stage.