Dubrovnik will host the inaugural World Aquatics Water Polo 4×4 Open Championships from August 31 to September 6, 2026, marking the global debut of a new, faster version of the sport.
The competition will take place in the city’s Old Port, a setting closely tied to Dubrovnik’s sporting tradition and summer life by the sea.
A Faster Version of the Game
Water Polo 4×4, also known as WP4, is designed as a more dynamic and spectator-friendly format. With four players per team, a smaller field of play and a shorter shot clock, the game is expected to be quicker, more intense and easier to follow for audiences.
The first championship will include elite national teams nominated by their federations, as well as Masters club teams. By choosing Dubrovnik for the launch, World Aquatics is placing the new format in a city where the sport already has deep roots.
A City Built for Water Polo
Water polo has long been part of Dubrovnik’s identity. From the success of VK Jug Adriatic Osiguranje to the beloved summer tradition of the Wild League, the sport has always belonged naturally to the city’s coastline, ports and beaches.
That is why the Old Port feels like a fitting stage for this first edition. Instead of a conventional pool setting, the competition will unfold in one of Dubrovnik’s most recognisable maritime spaces, surrounded by stone, sea and the rhythm of the historic city.
A New Event for Late Summer
The championship was officially confirmed following an agreement between World Aquatics and VK Jug Adriatic Osiguranje. The announcement also brought representatives of World Aquatics, the Croatian Swimming Federation, the City of Dubrovnik and the club together in the city.
For visitors, the event will offer a rare combination of international sport and one of the Adriatic’s most iconic settings. For locals, it will be another moment in which the city’s long relationship with the game takes centre stage.
The Beginning of a New Tradition
With the first Water Polo 4×4 Open Championships, Dubrovnik will not only host another sporting event. It will become the starting point for a new format that aims to make water polo faster, more accessible and more attractive to a wider audience.
In late summer 2026, the Old Port will become more than a postcard view. It will become the place where a new chapter of the sport begins.
