The World Games 2029 Karlsruhe – Confirmed Sports Programme and Disciplines

The World Games 2029 Karlsruhe – Confirmed Sports Programme and Disciplines

published on 3 September

Lausanne, Switzerland -3 September 2026 -The International World Games Association (IWGA) has today confirmed the full Sports Programme for The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany, including the disciplines for each sport that will feature at the Games from 19 to 29 July 2029.

Building on the announcement of the initial Sports Programme following the IWGA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in April, this confirmation represents another important milestone in preparations for The World Games 2029. The complete programme, which also includes the sports invited by the Host City and the sports for athletes with impairment, has now been finalised following approval by the IWGA Executive Committee (ExCo) and the Karlsruhe 2029 Organising Committee, providing athletes and International Federations with certainty as planning continues towards the Games.

Around 4,000 athletes from more than 100 countries, representing 36 sports and 62 disciplines are expected to compete across a diverse programme showcasing the very best of The World Games movement. The confirmed disciplines reflect the IWGA's commitment to sporting excellence and relevance, while ensuring a balanced and exciting competition programme.

Confirmed Sports Programme and disciplines

alphabetical order

Air Sport

Skydiving

American Football

Flag Football

Archery

Field, Target

Badminton

AirBadminton

Baseball- Softball

Baseball5

Billiards

Carom, Pool, Snooker

Boules Sports

Petanque, Lyonnaise

Cheerleading

Premier

Climbing

Boulder, Speed, Para Climbing

Cycling

Indoor

DanceSport

Breaking, Standard, Latin

Fistball

Outdoor

Floorball

Indoor

Flying Disc

Ultimate, Disc Golf

Gymnastics

Acrobatic, Aerobic, Parkour, Trampoline, Rhythmic

Handball

Beach

Hockey

Hockey 5s

Ju-Jitsu

Duo, Fighting, Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza), Inclusive Self Defence

Karate

Kata, Kumite, Para Karate

Kickboxing

K1 Style, Point Fighting

Korfball

Beach, Indoor

Lacrosse

Sixes Lacrosse

Life Saving

Pool

Minigolf

Minigolf

Muaythai

Combat

Orienteering

Foot Orienteering

Paddle

Marathon Paddle, Kayak Polo, Paddle Para Marathon

Powerlifting

Equipped

Roller Sports

Speed Skating

Squash

Squash

Sumo

Sumo

Triathlon

Duathlon

Tug of War

Outdoor

Underwater Sports

Finswimming, Freediving, Freediving for athletes with Impairment

Waterski / Wakeboard

Cable Wakeboard, Cable Waterski

Wushu

Sanda, Taolu

The confirmation of the disciplines completes another key stage in the development of The World Games 2029.

IWGA CEO Constance Terrier said: The confirmation of the Sports Programme and its disciplines marks another significant step towards The World Games 2029. Together with our International Member Federations and the Karlsruhe Organising Committee, we have developed a programme with 36 sports and 62 disciplines that reflects the diversity, quality and global appeal of our movement. Every discipline represents outstanding athletes, passionate communities and unique sporting traditions. We look forward to welcoming them to Karlsruhe, where they will inspire audiences from around the world and demonstrate the values that make The World Games so special.

IWGA Sports Director Sebastian Garvens added: " Finalising the disciplines is the result of extensive collaboration with our International Member Federations and the Local Organising Committee. Our objective has been to deliver a programme that is balanced, athlete-focused and operationally sustainable, reflecting the IWGA's values of excellence, sustainability and inclusiveness, while showcasing the breadth of sport represented within the IWGA. The confirmed programme provides clarity for athletes and federations as qualification pathways start, and it lays the foundation for an exceptional edition of The World Games in Karlsruhe."

Martin Wacker, CEO The World Games 2029 Karlsruhe GmbH: "By finalising the programme, we have jointly established an important foundation for a fantastic sporting festival at which Germany will showcase itself as an outstanding host. In our planning, we are focusing on existing sports venues, barrier-free access, short distances and fair ticket prices. At the same time, we want to embed The World Games 2029 within the local community and actively involve people from Karlsruhe and the surrounding region."

Alain Blondel, Sports Director, The World Games 2029 Karlsruhe GmbH: "Our aim was to make the full diversity of sport tangible through our sporting programme. We are particularly passionate about para sports, which, as an integral part of the programme, will bring their outstanding achievements even more strongly into the public eye. Each discipline will bring its own dynamic and distinctive personalities to Karlsruhe. I am already looking forward to this fascinating mix of emerging and traditional sports, and to turning the entire city into a stage for world-class performances.

Further information about competition schedules, qualification systems and medal events will be announced in due course as preparations continue.

For more information about The World Games 2029 Karlsruhe, visit www.twg2029.com.

The International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-profit-making international sports organisation recognised and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA comprises 40 International Member Sports Federations. It administers and promotes The World Games (TWG), a multi-sport event held every four years that features popular, traditional, emerging and trend sports on its programme. The World Games 2025 took place in Chengdu (CHN) from 7-17 August 2025. 4,000 athletes from more than 110 countries took part in this 12th edition. The World Games 2029 will take place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 19-29 July 2029, 40 years after it hosted TWG in 1989.

For more information, please contact the IWGA Media and Communication team:
[email protected], Tel: +41 21 311 12 97, or visit our website.