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2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships

July 20-25, 2026

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2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships logo

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Woman racing in kayak slalom race at Riversport

The 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships are coming to RIVERSPORT OKC July 18 to 25. As a qualifier for the 2028 Olympic Games, this premier event will bring 350 athletes from more than 60 countries to compete on the Olympic course.

Schedule

Opening Ceremony | Saturday, July 18, 7:00 p.m.

Free and open to the public, the ceremony features a Parade of Nations, live music, dance performances and a fireworks finale. Athletes will be welcomed with performances from local artists and cultural groups celebrating Oklahoma City’s creative spirit. RACE Dance Company and DJ Tony Tee will lead the athletes from all 60 countries in the Parade of Nations. OCU Opera star J. Warren Mitchell will perform the National Anthem. And select athletes from each country will kayak into the venue while others carry their national flag. Performances by:

Native American fancy dancers and drummers led by Boye Ladd and the Oklahoma Native Dance Troupe
LABRYS featuring Penny Pitchlynn
Original Flow featuring Christopher Acoff alongside local hip hop dancers
La Real Sonora will partner with Clips n’ Hips Dance Company + Motion Lab Dance Company
Stepmom
You in Me featuring Al Novey and Steven Drozd

Competition | July 20-25, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

More than 300 athletes from 50 nations will compete in this six-day event to become world champions in Canoe Slalom (C1), Kayak Slalom (K1) and Kayak Cross. For most, it will be their first opportunity to experience the RIVERSPORT course that will be the venue for the LA28 Olympic Games. RIVERSPORT will host live music on two stages throughout the competition. Performances by:

DJ Spencer Powers
Coat
Boye Ladd Fancy Dancers
Wet Muscles
Nia Mone
Bella Burns
Mingo Dance
Beau Jennings
Jeremy Rowe Band
Mallory Eagle
Vintage Vibe
AJ Harvey Trio
Claire Piersol Duo
Noah Engh & The Neptunes.

Closing Ceremony | Saturday, July 25, 5:00 p.m.

Following the final medal presentations, the Closing Ceremony will feature live music, special performances, a celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Nadia Comaneci’s Perfect 10 at the Olympics featuring Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner and an unforgettable finale. Performances by:

Husbands
DJ Tony Tee
Jabee
The cast of Sweeney Todd

Be part of the action and experience one of the world’s top Olympic qualifying events in Oklahoma City. Discover more information and purchase tickets.