The Countdown Begins: UPBF Paintball World Championship 2026
Dreux, France | 2-3 September 2026
The United Paintball Federation is thrilled to announce that the 2026 UPBF Paintball World Championship will return to Ace Paintball in Dreux, France, on 2-3 September 2026. With 21 countries competing in 2025 and growing global interest, could 2026 be the year we challenge our all-time record of 26 nations set in 2019?
Building Towards a Record-Breaking Event
The UPBF has witnessed remarkable growth in international participation over the years, with our historic peak coming in 2019 when 26 countries competed in the Netherlands. The 2025 championship in Dreux brought together 21 nations across five competitive categories, demonstrating the sustained global appeal of competitive paintball at the highest level.
A Legacy of Global Growth
Throughout UPBF history, 48 different countries have participated in world championships, establishing the federation as one of the most internationally diverse organizations in competitive paintball. This remarkable reach spans four continents and continues to expand as new nations discover the sport and develop competitive programs.
2025: Strong International Representation
The 2025 championship showcased paintball's truly global nature with participation from:
Americas (5 nations):
Brazil 🇧🇷, Canada 🇨🇦, Mexico 🇲🇽, United States 🇺🇸, Venezuela 🇻🇪
Europe (14 nations):
Belgium 🇧🇪, Finland 🇫🇮, France 🇫🇷, Germany 🇩🇪, Italy 🇮🇹, Luxembourg 🇱🇺, Netherlands 🇳🇱, Norway 🇳🇴, Poland 🇵🇱, Portugal 🇵🇹, Spain 🇪🇸, Sweden 🇸🇪, Switzerland 🇨🇭, United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Asia (1 nation): Malaysia 🇲🇾
Africa (1 nation): South Africa 🇿🇦
The addition of Malaysia and South Africa in 2025 marked an exciting expansion of UPBF's competitive reach into Asia and Africa, bringing world championship paintball to new regions and inspiring the next generation of players on these continents.
Five Categories of Excellence
The championship structure ensures comprehensive competition across age groups and experience levels:
U16 (Under 16) - Nurturing tomorrow's champions
U19 (Under 19) - Elite junior competition
Men's Open - Premier division showcasing top-tier play
Women's Open - Elite women's division growing year on year
Veterans - Celebrating experience and competitive longevity
This multi-category framework allows nations to field complete delegations and compete for world championship glory across multiple divisions, with each category independently crowning world champions.
The Road to 2026: Can We Break the Record?
With early expressions of interest from both returning nations and potential new UPBF members, 2026 presents an opportunity to challenge the 26-country record set in 2019. Several factors point toward strong participation:
Momentum Factors:
- Successful 2025 event establishing Dreux as a premier venue
- Growing paintball development programs in emerging nations
- Increased visibility of competitive paintball globally
- Strong continental representation seeking expansion
- New federations exploring UPBF membership
Target Regions for Growth:
- Expanded Asian representation beyond Malaysia
- Additional African nations joining South Africa
- Return of nations that competed in previous championships
- Emerging European federations developing competitive programs
- Potential Oceania representation
The Venue:
Ace Paintball in Dreux, France, has proven itself as an exceptional world championship venue. Located approximately 80km west of Paris in the Eure-et-Loir department, the facility offers:
- Multiple championship-caliber playing fields
- Modern infrastructure supporting international events
- Excellent accessibility for teams traveling from across the globe
- Professional event management with world championship experience
- Spectator-friendly facilities promoting fan engagement
- Strategic location with proximity to major European transport hubs
Joining the UPBF Family
The UPBF operates on a one-federation-per-country principle, ensuring clear national representation and democratic governance across the international paintball community. National federations interested in participating in the 2026 championship should review our comprehensive membership criteria.
Membership Framework:
- Formal organizational structure with national scope
- Commitment to UPBF statutes, democratic principles, and fair play
- Player development programs spanning age categories
- Adherence to international competition standards
- Transparent governance structure
- Representation of paintball interests at national level
Support for Emerging Federations:
- The UPBF provides guidance and support for countries developing their national federation structure. Whether you're an established organization or a developing federation, we welcome inquiries and offer resources to help meet membership standards.
Application Information:
-Complete details on membership criteria, application procedures, and federation requirements: www.upbf.net/membership/criteria
Championship Details
Event Information:
Dates: 2-3 September 2026
Location: Ace Paintball, Dreux, France
Categories: U16, U19, Men's, Women's, Veterans
2019 Record: 26 countries
2025 Participation: 21 countries
2026 Target: Break the record
Be Part of History
The 2026 UPBF Paintball World Championship offers more than just competition - it's an opportunity to be part of paintball history. Whether you're a player dreaming of representing your nation, a coach developing the next generation, a national federation official building your program, or a fan passionate about competitive paintball, this championship represents the pinnacle of international paintball competition.
The Challenge:
- 48 countries competed throughout UPBF history
- 26 countries set the record in 2019
- 21 nations competed in 2025
Can 2026 set a new record?
The Invitation:
National federations worldwide are invited to join this historic event. Together, we can showcase paintball's global reach and competitive excellence while potentially setting a new participation record.
Stay Connected
Follow the build-up to Dreux 2026 through our website and social media channels for:
- Registration timeline and deadline announcements
- Participating country confirmations as they register
- Venue information and travel guidance
- Championship schedule and competition format details
- Team and player spotlight features
- Behind-the-scenes championship preparation content
- Historical retrospectives from previous championships
The journey to September begins now. Seven months of preparation, anticipation, and excitement await the global paintball community.
48 countries all-time. 26 country record in 2019. 21 countries in 2025.
Will 2026 make history? Will your country be there?