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The ILCA Youth World Championships 2026 will be sailed on Lake Tuusula, Finland, from June 22 to 26, 2026. The event is organized by Tuusulanjärven Purjehtijat, who also hosted the Youth Worlds in 2012. The venue is located just 30 km away from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and from Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
One week prior to the World Championships event, the Finnish National and European Championships will take place at the same venue, from June 15 to 18, 2026. These events offer an excellent opportunity for participants to familiarize themselves with the race area and local wind conditions ahead of the Worlds.
Youth Worlds 2026 will provide sailors with a unique experience of the Nordic midsummer and the magic of the midnight sun. Further information regarding accommodation, registration, and event logistics will be published in autumn 2025.
From the Document Governing All Sanctioned Lightning Class Championships - Youth World Championship
ENTRIES
1. (a) Every country with organized yachting activity shall be entitled to two (2) Entries for the World Youth Championship. The Host Country shall be entitled to two (2) Additional entries. The Executive Committee may allocate additional entries on an equal basis to all Countries to provide twenty entries.
(b) Skippers and crew in the World Youth Championship must be ILCA members. 10
(c) Skippers and crew must be no older than 20; to clarify Skippers and crew may not turn twenty-one (21) years old during the year of the Championship.
Teams bring their own sails and PFD's. Boats are provided by host and a damage deposit is required. A draw system determines boat rotation.
Qualification for the World Youth Championship shall be determined preferably based on the order of finish in a Junior or Area Championship as follows: for U.S. entries, by the International Lightning Class Association; for Canadian entries, by the Canadian International Lightning Association; for entries from countries other than the U.S. or Canada, by the District or by the member National Authority of the International Sailing Federation.