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Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to host a triple slate of World Cups and two Junior Championships as the sport expands its global footprint
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With the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup 2026 calendar set, the sport that demands clean entries will see the series return to the United States in May, followed by Italy in July.
World Aquatics sets the High Diving World Cup calendar for 2026 with series stops in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) and Porto Flavia in Iglesias, Sardinia (ITA).
In addition to welcoming back the sport’s premier annual competition, Fort Lauderdale will also host the second edition of the World Aquatics High Diving Junior Championships in 2026, followed again by the junior event in 2028.
2026 High Diving Calendar
- 15–17 May – World Aquatics High Diving World Cup, Fort Lauderdale (USA)
- 15–17 May – World Aquatics High Diving Junior Championships, Fort Lauderdale (USA)
- 11–12 July – World Aquatics High Diving World Cup, Porto Flavia (ITA)
Multi-Year Hosting Agreements Strengthen Long-Term Stability
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| Last June, World Aquatics signed a multi-year hosting agreement with Italy’s iconic Marmeeting event, securing Porto Flavia as a regular World Cup venue. The event debuted in August 2025 with a new concept for World Aquatics high diving competitions: athletes launching from dramatic natural cliffs directly into the Mediterranean Sea, rather than from a constructed tower.
Most recently, World Aquatics reached an agreement with organisers in Fort Lauderdale to hold three consecutive High Diving World Cup events from 2026 to 2028, along with the High Diving Junior Championships in 2026 and 2028. |
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| When the World Cup returns to the United States next season, it will do so with a compelling new storyline: the competition venue is home to defending world champion and reigning World Cup winner, James Lichtenstein, where he trains year-round. The 31-year-old American secured both his world title and World Cup crown in 2025 with clutch, come-from-behind final dives utilising his signature high-difficulty back quint, marking a breakthrough moment for high diving in the United States.
“Hosting the World Cup and the Junior Championships in Fort Lauderdale is a huge moment for high diving in the United States,” said Lichtenstein. “This community helped shape my career, and to see the sport return here with this level of visibility means a lot. This tower is the best place in the world to train and compete, and I’m excited that young athletes will get to experience it. This is something I’m genuinely looking forward to.” |
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| USA Diving President Lee Michaud also proudly welcomed the announcement of Fort Lauderdale as host.
“Fort Lauderdale has truly become a home for high diving, and we are excited to welcome the world back in 2026,” said Michaud. “The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center provides an environment where athletes can perform at their best, enhanced by the vibrant energy of the city and its coastline. We look forward to supporting another successful World Cup and are eager to see the next generation of young athletes take the stage during the Junior Championships.”
Porto Flavia | “This Location Is Iconic and So Spectacular”
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| The World Aquatics High Diving World Cup returns to Porto Flavia, Italy, in July 2026, with the Sardinian venue set to host its second consecutive World Cup following a successful debut in August 2025.
In June, World Aquatics formalised a multi-year hosting agreement with organisers of the iconic Marmeeting event, confirming Porto Flavia as a regular stop on the High Diving World Cup circuit. The natural cliffside setting—where athletes dive directly into the Mediterranean Sea—has quickly established itself as one of the most distinctive backdrops in the sport.
“We are incredibly excited to continue this partnership with World Aquatics and to welcome the world’s best high divers back to this truly unique location,” said Franco Varese, Event Manager of the Porto Flavia event. “We share a long-term vision with World Aquatics and are proud to keep building on what we have created through the Marmeeting event. Hosting the High Diving World Cup again in Sardinia is a further realisation of that vision.”
Five-time world champion and reigning 2025 High Diving World Cup winner Rhiannan Iffland has previously highlighted the significance of the venue, noting that “this location itself is iconic and so spectacular—that always adds to how special the competition feels.”
Competition Format and Participation
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Athletes will compete from the 27m (men) and 20m (women) platforms in both Fort Lauderdale and Porto Flavia over a four-dive, two-day competition period.
Emerging Elite: Fort Lauderdale to Host Junior Championships in 2026 and 2028
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| Following the inaugural World Aquatics High Diving Junior Championships, held in Brasilia (BRA) in 2024, the youth categories will return with even greater momentum. All junior athletes (age groups 15-16 and 17-19) will compete from the 15m tower.
Overseeing the junior high diving development programme is 2013 world champion and current World Aquatics High Diving Chair Orlando Duque, one of the sport’s most respected figures.
“Working with these young high divers has been incredibly inspiring,” said Duque. “The sport resonates naturally with younger athletes, and we’re seeing a level of skill and confidence that continues to rise each season. The senior athletes show what is possible today, while the juniors are already pushing toward what will be possible in the future from 27m and 20m.”
“Today’s announcement is an important step forward for the sport,” added Duque. “The 2026 World Cup season offers a clear pathway toward the World Aquatics Championships – Budapest 2027, while also giving junior athletes more opportunities to learn from their heroes. Having certainty that Fort Lauderdale will host in both 2026 and 2028 is a major advantage as we continue building toward our long-term objectives — including the ambition of seeing high diving on the programme at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.”
High Diving History at World Aquatics
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Since its debut at the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, high diving has continued to grow in both scale and profile. The sport returned to the global championship stage for the seventh time at the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025.
Strong Storytelling and Media Opportunities in High Diving | “Expanding Opportunities at Every Level”
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| “High diving is continuing to grow as a global sport, and the announcements for the 2026 season showcase our commitment to expanding opportunities for athletes at all levels,” said World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam. “By strengthening the World Cup circuit and establishing recurring Junior Championships, we are creating a clear development pathway from youth to elite competition.
“Fort Lauderdale and Porto Flavia each offer world-class, cost-effective facilities, including the only two permanent high diving towers in the world. This allows us to maximise the use of existing infrastructure while delivering competitions of the highest standard.
“These events also enhance the sport’s global visibility, providing athletes and federations with strong storytelling and media opportunities in key markets,” the World Aquatics president added. “Most importantly, the stability of a multi-year calendar creates a stronger platform for partners and broadcasters, positioning high diving as a property with significant long-term value.” |
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