Minsk will host the 20th Judo Stars International Festival, an anniversary event in the history of the League that will bring together young judoka from Belarus and other countries. The festival will take place on 8 November 2026 at the Uruchye Sports Palace.
The history of Judo Stars began on 24 October 2021. Over the past five years, the League has developed from its first tournament into an international sports project bringing together athletes, coaches and clubs from different countries.
During this period, 19 international tournaments and four full seasons have been held, while more than 50 clubs have taken part in League competitions. Over the entire history of Judo Stars, around 10,000 registrations have been processed, with thousands of young athletes participating in the events.
The true value of Judo Stars, however, is measured by more than the number of competitions held. The League was created as a platform where every athlete has an opportunity to step onto the tatami — regardless of age, experience or level of preparation.
Behind these numbers are, first and foremost, the people who have stepped onto the tatami, trained, competed, gained experience and returned for the next tournaments throughout these five years.
JUDO STARS: FIVE YEARS OF HISTORY
At the heart of Judo Stars is the idea of creating competitions where athletes can test themselves at every stage of their development.
For one child, a tournament may be their first introduction to the atmosphere of competition. For another, it may be an opportunity to take part in their first serious bouts. For a more experienced athlete, it can be another stage of preparation and a chance to test their abilities against new opponents.
This approach has shaped the development of the League itself. As athletes gain age and experience, their goals, level of competition and preparation requirements change. Judo Stars therefore brings together different competition formats within a single sporting system.
The key idea is the opportunity to move forward step by step — from the first steps in judo to regular competitive practice and more demanding competitions.
WHAT AWAITS PARTICIPANTS AT THE FESTIVAL
The anniversary festival will bring together two main competition programmes — the White Belts Tournament for young beginners and the Judo Stars Tournament for athletes with more competitive experience.
Thus, on 8 November, the Uruchye Sports Palace will host competitions for both the youngest participants and more experienced young judoka.
In addition to the competition programme, participants and guests will have the opportunity to take part in meetings and activities that will complement the sporting programme and create opportunities for athletes, coaches and clubs to connect.
WHITE BELTS TOURNAMENT
A special part of the festival is dedicated to the youngest and beginner athletes.
The White Belts Tournament programme includes three formats:
• Tournament with Judo Elements “Tails”;
• Tournament with Judo Elements “Ne-waza”;
• White Belts Judo Tournament.
The age of the children is taken into account when forming each format, allowing them to gain their first competitive experience in conditions appropriate for their level of preparation. The youngest participants in the festival will be just four years old.
In the White Belts Tournament, every athlete is guaranteed at least two bouts. All participants will receive exclusive Judo Stars medals.
Here, the result is not measured by victory alone. What matters is the first step onto the tatami, the ability to overcome nervousness, apply what the child has learned in training, complete the bout and gain their first experience of competing in front of spectators.
For many young judoka, it is moments like these that mark the beginning of their competitive journey.
JUDO STARS TOURNAMENT
This is the main competitive part of the festival. It is designed for athletes for whom competition has already become an integral part of their sporting development.
Here, tactics, physical preparation, technical skill and the ability to apply training skills in an actual bout come to the forefront.
For 2026, the competition regulations provide for the following age categories:
• U-9 — boys and girls born in 2017–2018;
• U-11 — boys and girls born in 2015–2016;
• U-13 — boys and girls born in 2013–2014;
• U-15 — boys and girls born in 2011–2012.
For athletes in these age groups, Judo Stars provides an opportunity to test themselves, face new opponents and gain experience competing against athletes representing different clubs and countries.
MORE THAN JUST COMPETITION
Judo Stars is about more than the bouts themselves.
One of the traditional elements of the festival is “Warm-Up with a Champion” — an opportunity for young participants to warm up together with well-known athletes, meet them in person and receive practical advice.
For children, such meetings become an important part of the atmosphere of a major sporting event. For parents, they provide an opportunity to see their children not only during competition, but also surrounded by athletes, coaches and other participants.
Photos, conversations, new connections between clubs and the overall atmosphere of the event all complement the competition programme.
AN ARENA WITH A GREAT SPORTING HISTORY
The anniversary festival will take place at the Uruchye Sports Palace, one of Minsk’s well-known sporting venues.
In 2019, the arena hosted boxing competitions as part of the 2nd European Games. In 2023, it was among the sporting venues of the 2nd CIS Games in Belarus, where futsal competitions were held.
Now, young judoka will step onto its tatami. For some of them, competing at the Uruchye Sports Palace will be their first experience of taking part in a tournament at an arena that has hosted major international sporting events.
8 NOVEMBER — THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE JUDO STARS STORY
The 20th festival will become another important date in the history of the League, which has been developing since 2021. Over these years, new clubs have joined, the international dimension has expanded, competition formats have evolved, and the athletes themselves have grown alongside Judo Stars.
On 8 November 2026, this story will continue in Minsk. The tatami at the Uruchye Sports Palace will welcome the youngest participants as well as athletes who already have significant competitive experience.
20TH JUDO STARS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Date: 8 November 2026
Start: 10:00
Venue: Uruchye Sports Palace
Address: 196 Nezavisimosti Avenue, Minsk, Belarus
Participant registration: www.judostars.com
On this day, young athletes from Belarus and other countries will step onto the tatami to compete, gain new experience, meet opponents and friends, and become part of the Judo Stars anniversary event.
For some, it will be their first tournament. For others, another opportunity to test themselves against new opponents. But for every participant, it will be their own special day in judo.
JUDO STARS — WE ARE STAR MAKERS!
Vakhtang Sokhadze
Secretary General of the Belarusian Judo FederationDevelopment Director of the Judo Stars League
