World Taekwondo has confirmed that the Chuncheon 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships officially opened on 15 September at the Songam Sports Town Air Dome in Chuncheon, Republic of Korea, with competition running from 16 to 20 September. A record 1,417 athletes from 83 countries have registered, alongside the Taekwondo Refugee Team and athletes competing under the World Taekwondo flag, making this the largest edition in the event's 20-year history. For coaches, event organisers and buyers of taekwondo equipment, the structure of this field and the way the competition is run offer a clear read on where the poomsae discipline is heading.
Confirmed: a record-breaking World Poomsae Championships
According to World Taekwondo's official release, the field for this edition stands at 1,417 athletes from 83 countries, higher than any previous edition and the largest in the history of the championships. The World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships were first held in Seoul in 2006, and Korea has since hosted the event in Incheon (2007) and Goyang (2022). Chuncheon therefore becomes the fourth Korean host city after Seoul, Incheon and Goyang, while 2026 also marks the 20th anniversary and the 14th edition of the championships.
On the competition side, 42 medal events will be contested across Recognised Poomsae and Freestyle Poomsae, covering Individual, Pair and Team formats, with all events completed across five competition days. Note that at the time of publication World Taekwondo's official release covers the opening and the scale of the event; specific results should be taken from World Taekwondo's official channels and the official event app.
Chuncheon 2026 is the 14th edition of the World Poomsae Championships and its 20th anniversary year: 1,417 athletes from 83 countries, a record for the event.
Two firsts: Vatican City's debut and the Taekwondo Refugee Team
Vatican City appears at a World Taekwondo event for the first time
One of the most closely watched new faces at this edition comes from Vatican City. World Taekwondo's official release states that athlete Diego Di Mattia will compete in the Under-30 Male Individual event, making him the first athlete to represent Vatican City at a World Taekwondo-promoted championship. Speaking at the opening ceremony, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said the presence of Vatican City and refugee athletes sends a powerful message.
The Taekwondo Refugee Team: athletes from Azraq and Zaatari
Also worth recording is the Taekwondo Refugee Team. According to World Taekwondo's official release, Marwah Almahmoud Alsheikh from the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan will compete in the Female Cadet category; she recently medalled at the Kim & Liù Tournament in Rome. Belal Eed from the Zaatari Refugee Camp will compete in the Under-30 Male Individual category. The Refugee Team and athletes under the World Taekwondo flag appear on the entry list alongside national teams from around the world.
"The fact that Vatican City and our refugee athletes are here with us in Chuncheon sends a powerful message that Taekwondo is open to everyone."
The competition calendar and the Council's decisions
Beyond the competition itself, World Taekwondo announced two decisions relevant to the development of the discipline. The World Taekwondo Council held an Extraordinary meeting in Chuncheon on 15 September, unanimously approving Antalya in Türkiye as host of the 2028 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships after the Türkiye Taekwondo Federation presented its plans. A Peace Walk is also scheduled during the championships, on 17 September.
Of more direct interest to equipment makers is the competition technology stack. World Taekwondo Vice-President Jin-bang Yang updated the Council on the development of the new Smart PSS System: World Taekwondo aims to complete basic development by the end of 2027, begin testing at G1 and G2 events from 2028, and progressively introduce the system at major championships, with the ultimate goal of implementation at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Scoring-system changes typically alter the compatibility requirements for protectors, sensors and venue equipment, so this is worth tracking for manufacturers and event organisers alike.
The gear angle: uniforms and equipment for the poomsae court
Poomsae and kyorugi place different demands on equipment. Kyorugi uniforms prioritise light weight and heat dissipation, whereas poomsae judging assesses both accuracy of movement and presentation - whether a uniform holds a crisp shoulder line and hem in a static position has a direct effect on how the movement reads. For dojangs where poomsae is a core class, running one set of uniforms for competition and one for poomsae is usually a better fit than using a single uniform for everything. MOOTO's poomsae uniforms are developed separately in men's and women's cuts and in adult (Dan) and youth (Poom) neck styles, with the Taebek series and the Republic poomsae uniform both shaped specifically for the way poomsae movements set.
Taebek 2 Poomsae Uniform Dan Male
韩国原装太白品势服 WT认证款
Looking at the age structure of this championships - from Cadet through to the 65+ categories - a single size band will not cover real demand. When stocking, buyers should check men's and women's inventory and adult (Dan) and youth (Poom) neck styles side by side; for a dojang standardising its class kit, the buying guidance in the product guides category and the dobok size chart are the sensible starting points for fixing a size baseline before discussing bulk terms.
Taebek 2.1 Poomsae Uniform Dan Female
韩国原装太白品势服 WT认证款
Our 11 September article, '2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships: Three Things to Watch Before Chuncheon', covered the schedule milestones and team news and is worth reading alongside this report; further event and rules coverage sits in the tournament news category.
Frequently asked questions
journal.faq
Q1.When do the Chuncheon 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships take place?+
Competition runs from 16 to 20 September 2026 across five competition days at the Air Dome, Songam Sports Town, in Chuncheon, Republic of Korea. The opening ceremony was held on 15 September.
Q2.How large is this edition?+
World Taekwondo confirms 1,417 athletes from 83 countries have registered, plus the Taekwondo Refugee Team and athletes under the World Taekwondo flag - the largest field in the history of the championships, which is also the 14th edition and its 20th anniversary year.
Q3.Why should poomsae not be practised in a kyorugi uniform?+
Kyorugi uniforms prioritise light weight and heat dissipation, while poomsae judging assesses both accuracy and presentation, so how a uniform holds its structure in a static position affects the readability of the movement. MOOTO's poomsae line, including the Taebek series and the Republic poomsae uniform, is developed separately for poomsae and distinguishes adult (Dan) from youth (Poom) neck styles.
Q4.What should a dojang consider when buying poomsae uniforms in bulk?+
Fix a size baseline first, then stock men's and women's cuts and adult (Dan) and youth (Poom) neck styles separately, allowing size headroom for promotion cycles. Bulk terms and dealer arrangements are available through an inquiry.
journal.takeaways
- →World Taekwondo confirms the Chuncheon 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships opened on 15 September, with competition from 16 to 20 September
- →1,417 athletes from 83 countries have registered - a record for the event, which is the 14th edition and marks its 20th anniversary
- →Vatican City competes at a World Taekwondo-promoted championship for the first time, and the Taekwondo Refugee Team includes athletes from the Azraq and Zaatari camps in Jordan
- →42 medal events cover Individual, Pair and Team formats across Recognised and Freestyle Poomsae
- →World Taekwondo has awarded the 2028 edition to Antalya, Türkiye, and set out the roll-out plan for the new Smart PSS System
If your dojang is launching or expanding a poomsae programme and needs poomsae uniforms in men's and women's cuts and adult (Dan) and youth (Poom) neck styles, or if you are preparing the venue and taekwondo equipment for a regional event, send us your headcount, size bands and venue conditions through the inquiry channel and we will come back with selection and stocking recommendations.
