ADCC Trials 2026: 8 Divisions, 50+ Qualified Athletes, and What Happens Next

ADCC trials 2026 are shaping the most stacked no-gi world championship roster in the event’s history. With 50+ athletes already qualified across 8 divisions and more trials events ahead, the road to Kraków is delivering drama at every stop. Whether you’re tracking your favorite grappler’s path or planning your own trials entry, here’s the complete breakdown of who’s in, who’s still fighting for a spot, and what the remaining qualification schedule looks like.

What Are the ADCC Trials and Why Do They Matter?

The ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship is widely regarded as the most prestigious no-gi grappling tournament on the planet. Unlike most BJJ competitions where anyone can register, ADCC operates on an invitation-only format. Half the athletes in each division earn their spot through previous ADCC performances or by reputation. The other half must qualify through a grueling trials system spread across four continental regions.

Each trials event features hundreds of competitors battling through single-elimination brackets with ADCC submission-only rules — no points in regulation, meaning you either submit your opponent or face overtime with positional scoring. Winners in each professional division earn an automatic invitation to the World Championship.

The four trials regions cover the globe:

North America — Two events (East Coast and West Coast)
South America — Two events held in Brazil
Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) — Two events across Europe
Asia & Oceania — Two events

Male division winners from every trials event qualify directly. Female division winners qualify from the second trials event in each region. This structure means each male division can have up to 8 trials qualifiers joining the 8 invited athletes for a total of 16 competitors.

ADCC 2026 Worlds: Date, Venue, and Format

The 2026 ADCC World Championship takes place on September 12-13, 2026 at the Tauron Arena in Kraków, Poland. This marks ADCC’s return to Europe for the first time in nearly a decade, after the 2022 and 2024 editions were held in Las Vegas.

The tournament features five male weight divisions with 16 athletes each and three female divisions with 8 athletes each:

Division	Confirmed	Spots Remaining
Men’s -66kg	8 of 16	8
Men’s -77kg	8 of 16	8
Men’s -88kg	7 of 16	9
Men’s -99kg	8 of 16	8
Men’s +99kg	7 of 16	9
Women’s -55kg	3 of 8	5
Women’s -65kg	3 of 8	5
Women’s +65kg	4 of 8	4

Every Qualified Athlete by Division (Updated April 2026)

Here’s the complete roster of athletes who’ve already secured their ADCC 2026 spots through trials victories, champion returns, or direct invitations.

Men’s -66kg (8 Confirmed)

Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis — Returning 2024 champion (Brazil)
Fabricio Andrey — Invited (Brazil)
Nikodem Mikuliszyn — 1st EMEA Trials winner (Poland)
Dorian Olivarez — 1st North American Trials winner (USA)
Ryoma Anraku — 1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner (Japan)
Yigit Hanay — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (Türkiye)
David Santos — 1st South American Trials winner (Brazil)
Kauã Gabriel — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Men’s -77kg (8 Confirmed)

Mica Galvão — Returning 2024 champion (Brazil)
Mateusz Gamrot — Invited (Poland)
Magomed Dzharbaev — 1st EMEA Trials winner (Russia)
Jacob Bornemann — 1st North American Trials winner (USA)
Izaak Michell — 1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner (Australia)
Nikolay Vetrov — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (Russia)
Julio Martins — 1st South American Trials winner (Brazil)
Alexandre de Jesus — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Men’s -88kg (7 Confirmed)

Giancarlo Bodoni — Returning 2024 champion (USA)
Paweł Jaworski — 1st EMEA Trials winner (Poland)
Jon Blank — 1st North American Trials winner (USA)
Jozef Chen — 1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner (South Africa)
Marlon Tajik — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (Sweden)
Franco Diaz — 1st South American Trials winner (Peru)
Gustavo Batista — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Men’s -99kg (8 Confirmed)

Kaynan Duarte — Returning 2024 champion & double gold medalist (Brazil)
Adam Wardziński — Invited (Poland)
Declan Moody — 1st EMEA Trials winner (Australia)
Achilles Rocha — 1st North American Trials winner (Brazil/USA)
Nico Maglicic — 1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner (Australia)
Eoghan O’Flanagan — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (UK)
Eli Braz — 1st South American Trials winner (Brazil)
Vinicius Lessa — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Men’s +99kg (7 Confirmed)

Felipe Pena — Returning 2024 champion (Brazil)
Mark MacQueen — 1st EMEA Trials winner (Scotland)
Brandon Reed — 1st North American Trials winner (Canada)
Tito John Carle — 1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner (Australia)
Haisam Rida — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (Ghana)
Roosevelt Sousa — 1st South American Trials winner (Brazil)
Pedro Lucas — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Women’s -55kg (3 Confirmed)

Adele Fornarino — Returning 2024 champion & double gold (Australia)
Janette Gloger — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (Germany)
Mayssa Bastos — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Women’s -65kg (3 Confirmed)

Ana Carolina Vieira — Returning 2024 champion (Brazil)
Injana Goodman — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (UK)
Livia Correa — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Women’s +65kg (4 Confirmed)

Rafaela Guedes — Returning 2024 champion (Brazil)
Gabi Garcia — Invited (Brazil)
Anabel Lopez — 2nd EMEA Trials winner (UK)
Yara Soares — 2nd South American Trials winner (Brazil)

Remaining ADCC Trials Schedule for 2026

Several trials events remain before the September World Championship. These are the final chances for grapplers to earn their spots.

2nd North American Trials — April 18-19, Pomona, CA

The 2nd North American Trials takes place at the Fairplex Expo Hall 9 in Pomona, California — just 10 days from now. Registration closes April 15, 2026, with a $125 entry fee. Weigh-ins happen Friday evening (April 17), and competition starts at 11 AM on both Saturday and Sunday.

This is one of the most anticipated remaining trials events. North American grapplers who missed out at the East Coast Trials in November 2025 get one final shot here. Expect stacked brackets, particularly at -77kg and -88kg where American wrestling-heavy competitors tend to thrive under ADCC rules.

Spectator tickets are available at the door: $25 per day or $40 for both days.

2nd Asia & Oceania Trials — June 2026 (Date TBA)

Registration deadline is June 15, 2026 and competitors must prove citizenship from an Asian or Oceanian country. The exact date and venue have not been announced yet, but this event will fill the remaining spots from the Asia-Pacific region. The first Asia & Oceania Trials produced some standout performances, including Ryoma Anraku’s dominant run through the -66kg bracket.

ADCC Amateur World Championship — September 11, Kraków

The day before the pro worlds, the ADCC Amateur World Championship kicks off at the iconic Tauron Arena. This event is open to competitors of all levels, from beginner through advanced. It’s a massive grassroots event that typically draws hundreds of competitors from around the globe.

The Super Fight Question: Who Faces Kaynan Duarte?

Every ADCC World Championship is headlined by a super fight between the reigning super fight champion and the previous edition’s absolute winner. The problem? Gordon Ryan — the reigning super fight champion — has retired from competition.

Ryan dominated ADCC like no one before him, winning double super fights at ADCC 2024 with a 21-0 points victory over Yuri Simoes and a decision win over Felipe Pena. But he announced in late 2024 that he wouldn’t return for 2026, leaving Kaynan Duarte without a clear opponent.

Duarte earned the right to challenge for the super fight title by winning double gold at ADCC 2024 — taking both the -99kg division and the absolute. He submitted Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, Declan Moody, and Diego “Pato” Oliveira on his way to becoming the best no-gi grappler currently competing.

ADCC organizers now have flexibility to create their own marquee matchup. Potential super fight opponents for Duarte include:

Felipe Pena — The +99kg champion and Ryan’s longtime rival. A Pena vs. Duarte super fight would be a clash of generations between two of Brazil’s greatest no-gi competitors.
Mica Galvão — The -77kg champion who earned the “Super Grand Slam” by winning ADCC at every belt level. Moving up for a super fight would cement his legend status.
Giancarlo Bodoni — The -88kg champion known for his aggressive back-taking game. An American vs. Brazilian super fight would generate massive crossover appeal.

5 Storylines to Watch at ADCC 2026

1. Mica Galvão’s Quest for a Second ADCC Gold

At just 20 years old during ADCC 2024, Mica Galvão steamrolled through the -77kg division to win his first ADCC gold. He’s now the clear favorite to repeat, but the -77kg bracket features serious threats from Magomed Dzharbaev and Jacob Bornemann. The addition of MMA crossover Mateusz Gamrot as a special invite adds an unpredictable wildcard.

2. The Polish Invasion on Home Soil

With ADCC heading to Kraków, Polish grapplers have extra motivation — and extra crowd support. Nikodem Mikuliszyn (qualified at -66kg), Paweł Jaworski (-88kg), Adam Wardziński (-99kg), and Mateusz Gamrot (-77kg) give Poland four competitors across different divisions. The Tauron Arena will be electric for their matches.

3. Diogo Reis vs. the Field at -66kg

Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis dominated the -66kg division at ADCC 2024, finishing with a submission in the final. The young Brazilian represents a new generation of grapplers who are equally dangerous on top and bottom. His division features several trials winners who went through war to get there, including Olivarez, Anraku, and the rising Turkish star Yigit Hanay.

4. Can Anyone Dethrone Kaynan at -99kg?

Kaynan Duarte has won -99kg at the last three consecutive ADCC World Championships (2019, 2022, 2024). He’s gunning for a historic fourth straight title while also potentially competing in a super fight. The -99kg bracket includes dangerous challengers like Eoghan O’Flanagan, who won all his European Trials matches by submission — at a weight class above his natural division.

5. Adele Fornarino’s Double Gold Defense

The Australian became the first-ever ADCC double gold medalist from outside the Americas at ADCC 2024. Fornarino’s kneebar finish of Rafaela Guedes in the absolute semifinals was one of the tournament’s most memorable moments. She returns as the heavy favorite at -55kg, but the women’s divisions continue to deepen with talent every cycle.

How ADCC Trials Differ from Standard BJJ Tournaments

If you’ve only competed at IBJJF or local BJJ tournaments, ADCC trials operate under a fundamentally different ruleset that rewards aggressive grappling. Here’s what makes them unique:

Submission-only regulation — No points are scored during the first portion of each match (10 minutes for men, 8 for women). The only way to win in regulation is by submission.
Overtime scoring — If no submission occurs, the match enters overtime where takedowns, sweeps, guard passes, mount, and back control earn points. Negative points apply for guard pulling.
No gi grips allowed — Unlike IBJJF no-gi which permits grabbing shorts, ADCC prohibits grabbing any clothing. Athletes compete in rashguards and approved no-gi shorts.
Broader submission legality — Heel hooks and other leg lock techniques are legal from the opening seconds, unlike IBJJF where they’re restricted by belt level.
Professional and amateur divisions — Trials feature both pro divisions (where winners qualify for Worlds) and amateur divisions with beginner through advanced categories.

How to Watch ADCC 2026 and Where to Get Tickets

The 2026 ADCC World Championship will be streamed live on FloGrappling, which requires a paid subscription. Based on previous events, early rounds may also stream free on FloGrappling’s YouTube channel.

Ticket information for the Tauron Arena hasn’t been released yet as of April 2026. The venue holds over 15,000 spectators, and given ADCC’s growing mainstream appeal — the 2024 event at T-Mobile Arena drew over 12,000 fans — expect tickets to sell fast once they go on sale.

For the upcoming 2nd North American Trials on April 18-19, spectator tickets are available at the door at the Fairplex in Pomona, CA: $25 per day or $40 for both days.

What’s at Stake: Prize Money and Legacy

ADCC has steadily increased competitor compensation. At ADCC 2024, all competitors received a minimum $2,500 show fee for the first time in the event’s history. Prize money for division champions has also been raised, though exact figures for 2026 haven’t been announced.

Beyond money, an ADCC gold medal carries weight that no other grappling title can match. Champions join a lineage that includes Gordon Ryan, Marcelo Garcia, Andre Galvão, and Roger Gracie — the absolute icons of submission grappling. For trials competitors grinding through 8-match brackets to earn their spot, the dream of standing on that podium in Kraków is worth every bead of sweat.

ADCC Trials 2026: 8 Divisions, 50+ Qualified Athletes, and What Happens Next

What Are the ADCC Trials and Why Do They Matter?

ADCC 2026 Worlds: Date, Venue, and Format