Hello European Aquatics family,
June has been another busy and successful month for European Aquatics, highlighted by the conclusion of the 2025-2026 Water Polo club season in Malta, the start of a packed summer championship programme and continued progress across education, social responsibility and strategic partnerships.
In this edition, we look back on a memorable Champions League Final Four, celebrate the achievements of our young athletes in diving and artistic swimming, provide updates on upcoming competitions and development opportunities, and share the latest news from across the European Aquatics family.
So, without further ado, see more below... |
|
Water Polo Season Reaches a Spectacular Conclusion in Malta The 2025-2026 European Aquatics Water Polo club season came to an exciting conclusion in Malta as the Champions League Final Four brought together the continent’s best men's and women's clubs for four days of elite competition. The event marked the culmination of a season involving dozens of clubs from across Europe and hundreds of matches across European Aquatics competitions, once again demonstrating the strength, depth and popularity of water polo throughout the continent.
Barceloneta and Olympiacos were crowned respectively men's and women's champions across two thrilling finals.
Hosted in Malta for the third consecutive year, the Final Four showcased not only world-class sporting performances but also the outstanding organisational capabilities of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta and its partners. The event attracted leading athletes, coaches, officials and stakeholders from across Europe while providing a fitting finale to another memorable club season. |
|
Five takeaways from the Final Four
1. The standard of European club water polo continues to rise The quality of competition throughout the Final Four once again demonstrated why European clubs remain the benchmark for the sport globally.
2. Malta has established itself as a premier host The successful delivery of three consecutive Final Four events has further strengthened Malta's reputation as a leading destination for major aquatic sports events.
3. Women's water polo continues its impressive growth The women's competition once again delivered outstanding matches, highlighting the increasing depth and competitiveness of the European club landscape.
4. Innovation and fan engagement remain a priority Enhanced digital coverage, fan experiences and venue presentation helped create an outstanding showcase for the sport.
5. Strong foundations for the future The event underlined the strength of European Aquatics' club competitions and the opportunities for continued growth in the years ahead. |
|
Clubs and Federations meet during Water Polo Conference
Alongside the Final Four, European Aquatics hosted its annual Water Polo Conference, bringing together representatives from clubs, national federations and key stakeholders. The discussions focused on competition development, commercial opportunities, athlete welfare, officiating and the continued growth of water polo across Europe.
The conference provided an important platform for exchanging ideas and strengthening collaboration between all parts of the European water polo community. |
|
The club season in numbers The 2025–2026 European Aquatics Water Polo club season concluded as the largest and most active club competition season to date, with growth recorded across nearly all key participation and competition indicators. A total of 130 teams from 27 countries participated in European Aquatics competitions, including 74 men’s teams and 56 women’s teams. Throughout the season, 2,117 athletes competed in at least one match, representing a 21% increase compared to the previous season. The overall competition programme continued to expand, reaching 554 matches played, an increase of 14% compared to the 2024–2025 season. Offensive output also reached a new high, with 14,664 goals scored (15,007 including penalty shoot-outs), representing a 29% increase year-on-year.
|
|
Eindhoven to host 2028 Women's European Water Polo Championships European Aquatics is pleased to confirm that Eindhoven will host the 2028 Women's European Water Polo Championships.
The announcement represents another significant milestone for the sport and reinforces the Netherlands' strong tradition of organising world-class aquatic events. The championship will provide a major platform for Europe's leading female water polo athletes while helping to further grow participation and visibility for the women's game. |
|
|
Europe's future stars shine in Budapest and Munich June has seen the next generation of European aquatic athletes take centre stage at two major youth championships.
The European Youth Artistic Swimming Championships in Munich have showcased the creativity, technical excellence and dedication of Europe's emerging artistic swimming talent. A total of 227 athletes, representing 28 federations participated in the competition tht resulted with the team Russia as the winner.
The European Junior Diving Championships in Budapest welcomed 158 athletes, who represented 27 federations from across the continent, providing an important development platform for future elite divers. The trophy winners of the competition was also team Russia.
Together, these events underline the strength of European Aquatics' development pathway and the federation's commitment to supporting young athletes as they progress towards senior international competition. |
|
Looking ahead: A busy Summer continues Attention now turns to an exciting summer programme that includes the European Junior Artistic Swimming Championships, European Junior Swimming Championships, European Junior Open Water Swimming Championships and a series of Masters competitions across Europe.
Registrations continue for several upcoming events and member federations are encouraged to review deadlines, qualification requirements and event information through the European Aquatics calendar and event platforms.
The European Aquatics Masters Championships in Slovakia are also approaching rapidly and promise to bring together thousands of athletes from across Europe in one of the largest celebrations of lifelong participation in sport. Registrations deadline is 31 July. |
|
|
|
Water Polo Development Camp underway European Aquatics continues its investment in the future of the sport through its Water Polo Development Programme.
This year's Water Polo Development Camp brings together young athletes and coaches from across Europe, providing expert coaching, technical education and valuable international experience.
The programme remains a cornerstone of European Aquatics' commitment to developing future generations of players and coaches. |
|
19 New Referees Join the European Aquatics Water Polo Family
From 25-28 June 2026, the second phase of the European Aquatics Water Polo Referees School took place in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Nineteen participants successfully completed the programme under the guidance of Boris Margeta, Angel Moliner, Nikolaos Stavropoulos and Dejan Perisic. The candidates demonstrated excellent commitment and performance throughout both the educational sessions and practical refereeing assignments during the Turkish age-group national championships.
Following successful completion of the Water Polo Rules examination, all 19 participants achieved Basic Certified Referee status and are now eligible to be nominated by their national federations for inclusion on the European Aquatics Water Polo Referees List for 2026-2027.
European Aquatics extends its sincere thanks to the Türkiye Water Polo Federation, the Local Organising Committee, Sinan Turunc and Aysem Ozalp for their excellent support and hospitality throughout the programme. |
|
Women in Aquatics Webinar Series Continues The Women in Aquatics Network continues to provide valuable opportunities for learning, mentoring and professional development across the aquatic community.
Members are encouraged to register for upcoming webinars, which will feature leading voices from across sport, governance, coaching and athlete development while supporting European Aquatics' commitment to greater gender balance throughout the aquatic sector. |
Aquatics Social Responsibility (ASR) News |
Supporting Positive Change Through Sport
European Aquatics continues to expand its Aquatics Social Responsibility programme, using the power of sport to deliver positive impact across communities throughout Europe.
Member federations are encouraged to participate in upcoming initiatives and contribute examples of best practice that demonstrate how aquatic sports can support inclusion, health, education, sustainability and community engagement. |
Save the Date: Social Sustainability and Environment Conference
Preparations are underway for the next European Aquatics Social Sustainability and Environment Conference.
The event will bring together experts, federations, athletes and partners to share ideas and practical solutions that support sustainability, environmental responsibility and long-term positive impact through aquatic sport. Further information and registration details will be released shortly. |
|
|
|
New Partnerships Strengthen European Aquatics
European Aquatics continues to expand its commercial and strategic partnership portfolio.
During June, the federation strengthened its commitment to sustainability and innovation through new partnership agreements, including the recently announced collaboration with Lokang, European Aquatics' first dedicated sustainability partner. The partnership supports initiatives linked to environmental responsibility, energy solutions and drowning prevention.
European Aquatics has also continued to develop new commercial relationships that will enhance services for athletes, federations, events and fans while supporting the federation's long-term strategic objectives. |
|
European Aquatics Represented at EOC General Assembly
European Aquatics Treasurer Andida Bouma attended the 55th European Olympic Committees General Assembly in Budapest as a special guest following an invitation from EOC President Spyros Capralos.
The event brought together National Olympic Committees, international federations, IOC representatives and key stakeholders from across the Olympic Movement. Discussions focused on the future of sport in Europe, governance, athlete development and preparations for upcoming multi-sport events including the European Games Istanbul 2027 and future European Youth Olympic Festivals.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry delivered a keynote address outlining her vision for the future of the Olympic Movement. The Assembly provided valuable opportunities for dialogue, partnership building and collaboration, further strengthening European Aquatics' role within the wider European sporting landscape. |
|
European Aquatics Events – Save the Dates This November, the X-Bionic Sphere in Šamorín, Slovakia plays host to three exciting European Aquatics events all in one place, centred around Artistic Swimming. 2–6 November 2026
The week kicks off with the European Aquatics Next Wave Artistic Swimming Development Camp Samorín 2026, aimed at promising young swimmers aged 10–15 and aspiring coaches looking to develop professionally. Running alongside it is the Coaches Certification Course - Level 1 (Artistic Swimming), designed for those just starting out on their coaching pathway as well as coaches looking to deepen their knowledge and skills in the sport. 6–8 November 2026
The week rounds off with the Annual Clinic - Artistic Swimming, a broader gathering open to the entire Artistic Swimming community - athletes, coaches, officials, managers, and anyone with a passion for the sport. |
|
|
|
