The 2026 ADCC World Championship returns September 12-13 at Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland -- the first time Poland has hosted grappling's most prestigious event. With five men's divisions and three women's divisions, the world's best no-gi submission grapplers will compete in front of a live audience for titles that matter more in the grappling community than almost any other. Here is your complete guide to what ADCC is, how to watch, who to follow, and why this event makes a strong case for trying a no-gi class.
Reviewed by BJJ Gyms · Updated 2026-07-27
ADCC 2026 takes no-gi grappling's most prestigious event to Europe for the first time. Stream it on FloGrappling September 12-13.
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship -- ADCC -- is held every two years and represents the pinnacle of no-gi submission grappling competition. Unlike IBJJF gi competitions, ADCC is contested without a gi (the traditional kimono worn in BJJ), which changes the dynamics of the grappling significantly: grip fighting is different, guard retention is more challenging, and the high-level wrestling and leg-lock game that defines elite no-gi is more prominently on display.
What makes ADCC particularly special is its format and its prestige. Only 16 athletes per men's division and 8 per women's division compete, meaning the bracket is tight with genuine world-class talent at every position. Half the field earns direct invitations based on their prior ADCC results, their world ranking, or their elite reputation -- invitees at ADCC typically include IBJJF world champions, top UFC fighters, and the names that dominate grappling tournament circuits globally. The other half qualifies through regional ADCC Trials, which are themselves fierce competitions.
The 2026 event in Krakow, Poland is the first time the championship has been held in Eastern Europe. Previous events have been held in the United States (2019, 2022, 2024), the UAE, and other locations around the world. Hosting the event in Europe for 2026 reflects the growth of the grappling community on that continent and provides European fans with a home-region opportunity to watch live.
The 2026 ADCC World Championship features five men's divisions: under 66kg, under 77kg, under 88kg, under 99kg, and over 99kg, plus an open weight division. Women compete in three divisions: under 55kg, under 65kg, and over 65kg, plus an open weight. The format is bracket-style single elimination, with competitors facing opponents in a sequence of matches until one finalist remains on each side of the bracket.
One feature of ADCC's format that distinguishes it from standard tournament competition is its submission-only scoring structure during overtime. In regulation, points can be scored for takedowns, guard passes, back takes, and holds. If the match reaches overtime, however, the rules shift to submission-only: the match continues until one competitor submits the other, creating an environment where elite grapplers who might otherwise stall for points are forced to engage aggressively for the finish.
Qualifying for ADCC through the Trials is one of the most brutal paths in combat sports. Regional trials events -- held across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other regions -- draw hundreds of competitors competing for a small number of spots. The athletes who emerge from trials have typically competed through six or more matches in a single day at a high level. Watching a trials qualifier compete at ADCC adds a layer of respect for what they went through to earn their spot.
The 2026 ADCC World Championship streams exclusively on FloGrappling. FloGrappling is a subscription streaming platform focused on grappling competition, offering live coverage of ADCC events, IBJJF tournaments, and independent grappling promotions throughout the year. An active FloGrappling subscription on September 12-13 is the way to watch every match from the Krakow event.
ADCC events are among the best possible introductions to what high-level no-gi grappling looks like for people who are curious about the sport. The matches are competitive, the submission attempts are frequent, and the technical depth on display -- heel hooks, leg entanglements, back takes, wrestling scrambles -- is simultaneously exciting and instructive. Many viewers who watch ADCC for the first time walk away with a genuine curiosity about what training feels like.
If you find yourself motivated by the September event to explore training, most BJJ gyms offer no-gi classes alongside their gi curriculum. No-gi classes typically feature shorts and a rash guard rather than a gi, and the emphasis on wrestling-based takedowns, scrambles, and leg locks makes them feel noticeably different from traditional gi BJJ. Many beginners find no-gi grappling more immediately intuitive because the grip fighting is simpler. Use BJJ Gyms to find a gym near you, and ask specifically about no-gi options when you reach out.
If you have watched IBJJF tournaments or other BJJ competitions and wondered what makes ADCC the most prestigious event in the grappling world, these distinctions explain it.
BJJ Gyms is an independent directory, not a gym. We feature 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu as our recommended no-gi system. Always take a free trial and vet any academy yourself before committing.
The open weight division is often the most dramatic because athletes from all weight classes compete, creating matchups between differently-sized grapplers and requiring competitors to use technique rather than size. The under 66kg and under 77kg men's divisions also tend to feature the highest density of elite technical grapplers.
FloGrappling covers the regional ADCC Trials events throughout the qualification cycle. The official ADCC website and FloGrappling's editorial coverage track which athletes have qualified from each region ahead of the September event.
No-gi classes involve shorts and a rash guard rather than a gi. You will practice takedowns, guard work, back takes, and submission attempts. Without gi grips, the pace tends to be higher and grip fighting relies more on body control and underhooks than collar or sleeve grips. Most gyms welcome total beginners to no-gi classes.