Preview of the 2026 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Varna (BUL)

The European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics return to Varna! The flagship event will kick off on Wednesday in Varna’s Palace of Culture and Sports, 5 years after the last edition there.  

With record participation of 43 nations, this event is already making headlines. A total of 362 gymnasts will take to the stage: 254 seniors and 108 juniors. Juniors will compete individually only, while senior will battle for both individual and group honours.

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All competition information is available on the event website: 2026 European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics - Varna (BUL) | European Gymnastics.

 

Who to watch?

The hopes of the home nation rely on superstars Stiliana Nikolova and Eva Brezalieva while the international community is eager to see them battle with the defending European all-around Champion Taisiia Onofriichuk (UKR), World and Olympic Champion Darja Varfolomeev (GER) and Italian grand lady Sofia Raffaeli. Add to that, the challenge presented by Tara Dragas (ITA), Alina Harnasko (BLR), the Romanian duo Amalia Lica and Andreea Verdes, Fanni Pigniczki (HUN), Liliana Lewinska (POL), Hatice Gokce Emir (TUR), Vera Tugolukova (CYP)  and several other up-and-coming talents, the competition promises to be thrilling!

In the senior group competition, Spain aims to defend its European hattrick, expecting fierce competition from the home nation Bulgaria, Olympic medallists Israel and Italy, Ukraine, Germany, France, Russia, Belarus and several others in a close field.

We wish every single gymnast loads of success, supporting them to achieve their goals.

 

Competition format

Senior Individuals 1 to 3 gymnasts can compete per National Federation, presenting  maximum 8 exercises. If a NF participates with only 1 gymnast, she must present an exercise with all 4 apparatus and does not qualify for the team ranking. The best 8 per apparatus compete in the Apparatus finals. The best 3 scores count towards the all-around ranking. The best 20 advance to the All-Around final, plus 1 gymnast from the host nation if not yet qualified.  In the all-around final, all finalists perform with hoop and ball. The top 10 after those two apparatus advance to the second part where they will perform with clubs and ribbon. The total of the scores determine the ranking. The best 8 per apparatus compete in the Apparatus finals.

Senior Group Groups perform two routines in qualifications: 5 Ball & 3 Hoops / 2 pairs of Clubs. The combined score determines the All-Around ranking. The best 8 groups per apparatus advance to the apparatus finals.

Team ranking Senior The winner of the Team Competition is determined by combining the results of all 8 senior individual routines plus the 2 senior group routines.

Junior Individuals 1 to 4 gymnasts can compete per National Federation, presenting  4 exercises. If a NF participates with only 1 gymnast, she must present an exercise with all 4 apparatus and does not qualify for the team ranking. The best 8 per apparatus compete in the Apparatus finals.

Team ranking Junior The winner of the Team Competition is determined by combining the results of the 4 junior individual routines, providing the National Federation uses at least 2 different gymnasts.

World Championships qualification A top 12 ranking of in total 8 routines from 2/3 senior individual gymnasts per federation from the qualification competition will decide which European federation can participate at the 2026 World Championships with 2/3 gymnasts. All federations, which participated in these Europeans and have not qualified yet among the quota places for 2 – 3 gymnasts, have the right to participate in the 2026 World Championships with 1 individual gymnast.

 

Schedule (all times listed are in Varna local time)

Wednesday 27 May – Junior Individuals with Team ranking

10:00 – 12:00    Qualifications – Set A

12:10 – 14:10    Qualifications – Set B

15:30 – 17:30    Qualifications – Set C

17:40 – 19:40    Qualifications – Set D

Followed by Award Ceremony Junior Team

 

Thursday 28 May – Senior Individual Qualifications & Junior Individual Finals

09:00 – 10:10    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set A

10:10 – 11:10    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set B

11:20 – 12:20    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set C

12:20 – 13:20    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set D

14:20 – 15:20    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set E

15:20 – 16:20    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set F

16:30 – 17:30    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set G

17:30 – 18:30    Senior Hoop & Ball – Set H

18:45 – 19:15    Opening Ceremony

19:30 – 20:35    Junior Apparatus Finals – Hoop & Ball

20:45 – 21:50    Junior Apparatus Finals – Clubs & Ribbon

Followed by Award Ceremonies Junior Apparatus Finals Hoop, Ball, Clubs & Ribbon

 

Friday 29 May – Senior Individual Qualifications

09:00 – 10:00    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set E

10:00 – 11:00    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set F

11:15 – 12:15    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set G

12:15 – 13:15    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set H

14:30 – 15:40    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set A

15:40 – 16:40    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set B

16:50 – 17:50    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set C

17:50 – 18:50    Senior Clubs & Ribbon – Set D

 

Saturday 30 May – Senior All-Around Finals

10:00 – 12:20    Senior Individual All-Around Final – Part 1: Hoop & Ball

12:50 – 14:05    Senior Individual All-Around Final – Part 2: Clubs & Ribbon

Followed by Award Ceremony Senior Individual All-Around

15:00 – 17:25    Senior Group All-Around Final – Set A

17:30 – 19:55    Senior Group All-Around Final – Set B

Followed by Award Ceremonies Senior Group All-Around and Senior Team

 

Sunday 31 May – Senior Apparatus Finals

12:00 – 13:10    Individual Apparatus Finals Hoop & Ball

13:20 – 14:30    Individual Apparatus Finals Clubs & Ribbon

Followed by Award Ceremonies Hoop, Ball, Clubs & Ribbon

16:00 – 16:40    Group Apparatus Final 5 Balls

16:50 – 17:30    Group Apparatus Final 3 Hoops & 2 pairs of Clubs

Followed by SmartScoring Shooting Star Award and Award Ceremonies 5 Balls and 3 Hoops / 2 pairs of Clubs

 

How to follow the competition?

Together with our Global Partners EBU and SmartScoring, we remain committed to bringing all the action live to your living room, in case you can't travel to Varna. 

The junior individual qualifications and finals, plus the senior individual qualification rounds on Wednesday 27, Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May will be streamed on SmartScoring’s Gymtv.online platform, for just € 20, accompanied by the expert commentary of Blythe Lawrence and Olly Hogben. Subscribe

The senior finals on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May will be broadcast on TV throughout Europe, thanks to EBU. A comprehensive list of TV rights holders and their planned coverage is available on our event website. Livestreaming on the EBU platform European Gymnastics will be accompanied by expert commentary courtesy of Olly Hogben and Blythe Lawrence. Geo-blocking can occur if your national TV channel shows the event.

You can follow the live scoring on Live Results - SmartScoring | Every second matters.

Results of past championships are available on our website, as are competition reports, interviews, start lists, schedule and results.

Official hashtag of the event: #Varna2026