World Climbing Series 2026 features 13 stops across 10 countries, opening with back-to-back stops in China; LA28 adds three disciplines to Olympic program

World Climbing Series 2026: Stars to follow, full schedule and how to watch live

The World Climbing Series 2026 features 13 stops across 10 countries, beginning with back-to-back stops in the People’s Republic of China in May. Discover the top climbers to watch and the full season schedule.

Rebranded under a new name, logo and refreshed visual identity, theWorld Climbing Series 2026promises to takesport climbingall the way to the top – if you’ll excuse our pun.

With all three disciplines –Boulder, Lead and Speed– set to feature at theOlympic Games LA28, there’ll be no shortage of eyes on the sport two years out from its biggest show yet.

Many of the sport’s top stars will return to the Series, with hopes of summiting the overall rankings in lieu of the World Climbing Championships and Olympic Games.

It’s a path that will put them on a collision course with a talented bunch of rising stars and burgeoning talents, who used the last season to announce their own arrival on the global stage.

Featuring 13 stops in 10 countries and three continental regions, the World Climbing Series 2026 begins with a double-header in the People’s Republic of China in May.

Additional highlights include the Series debut of the four-lane Speed format in Madrid, Spain, and the first-ever visit to Santiago, Chile, for the season finale of Lead and Speed.

Expect nothing less than tight competitions, copious drama and physical insanity, as certified stars go hold-to-hold and move-to-move with the next generation of champions.

Scroll down to learn more about the World Climbing Series 2026, including the full schedule, top climbers to follow and how to watch sport climbing live all season long.

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World Climbing Series 2026: Female climbers to follow

No one merits inclusion on any ‘climber’s to watch’ list more than double Olympic championJanja Garnbretof Slovenia, who bookended the 2025 season by winning gold in bothBoulderandLeadat the2025 World Climbing Championships.

Viewed by many as the greatest female climber of all-time, the 27-year-old will return to the World Climbing Series on a limited basis in Boulder and Lead, chasing an astonishing50th victoryon the sport’s most prestigious competition circuit.

French youngsterOriane Bertone– already a two-time World Climbing Championships silver medallist in Boulder at the age of 21 – will head the challenge to Garnbret’s authority over the dynamic discipline, having topped the world rankings last season.

She’ll be joined by Great Britain’sErin McNeiceand teenage phenomAnnie Sandersfrom the United States of America, who both finished the season inside the top five of the Boulder rankings to solidify their status as rising stars.

McNeice is also expected to feature prominently in the Lead category, along with Garnbret, as the two look to unseat last season’s top ranked climber –Seo Chaehyunof the Republic of Korea – who ruled with consistency rather than dominance.

With Paris 2024 Olympic championAleksandra Mirosławset to retire this season, Speed will undergo an emotional changing of the guard. Candidates to replace Mirosław as the queen of Speed include Team USA’sEmma Huntand the People’s Republic of China’sDeng Lijuan.

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World Climbing Series 2026: Male climbers to watch

He might not be as dominant as Janja Garnbret on the men’s side of Boulder and Lead, but Japan’sAnraku Soratois no less a shining star in the eyes of sport climbing fans.

Fresh off a silver medal in the combined event at theOlympic Games Paris 2024, the teenager had an incredible season,claiming Boulder goldat the 2025 World Climbing Championships and topping the Boulder world rankings with two wins early in the season.

France’sMejdi Schalckmight be the only man capable of stopping his Japanese compatriot’s dramatic rise in Boulder, having made every final in Boulder competition last season, before taking silver at the 2025 World Climbing Championships.

Anraku is also likely to feature in Lead competitions, alongside fellow dual-discipline threatLee Dohyunfrom the Republic of Korea, who won apopular Lead world titlein front of a packed home crowd last season.

Reigning Series championYoshida Satonewill also fancy his chances in Lead, along with Spain’sAlberto Ginés Lopez, who returned to the form that won him the combined gold medal at theOlympic Games Tokyo 2020last season.

TeenagerZhao Yichengfrom the People’s Republic of China has already generated plenty of buzz in Speed,setting a new world recordof 4.58 seconds on home soil at the 2026 Asian Beach Games.

He’ll hope to leave his mark on the big leagues, facing off against the likes of Team USA’sSam Watson, Germany’sLeander Carmannsand teammateLong Jianguo– who topped the world rankings, won the men’s world title and claimed two gold medals at The World Games 2025.

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World Climbing Series 2026: Full schedule

1-3 May: Keqiao, People’s Republic of China - Boulder

8-10 May: Wujiang, People’s Republic of China - Lead, Speed

22-24 May: Bern, Switzerland - Boulder

28-31 May: Comunidad de Madrid, Spain - Boulder, Speed

3-7 June: Prague, Czechia - Boulder, Lead

17-21 June: Innsbruck, Austria - Lead

3-5 July: Krakow, Poland - Speed

10-12 July: Chamonix, France - Lead, Speed

4-5 September: Koper, Slovenia - Lead

11-13 September: Guiyang, People’s Republic of China - Speed

18-20 September: Chongqing, People’s Republic of China - Speed

16-18 October: Salt Lake City, United States of America - Boulder

23-25 October: Santiago, Chile - Lead, Speed

World Climbing Series 2026: How to watch live

Live coverage of the World Climbing Series is available onOlympic Channel via Olympics.com(territorial restrictions may apply).

Broadcast and streaming feeds will also be available via World Climbing’s broadcast partners and their ownYouTube Channel.

Check your local listings for more information.