Hosted by the Kayak Club of Thury-Harcourt, the event will welcome some of the continent's most successful canoe polo nations, including reigning European champions, medal winners and emerging young talents.
Senior Men: Spain Arrive as Team to Beat
The Men's tournament features two highly competitive groups and includes eight of the top ten nations from the latest European Championship rankings.
Reigning European champions Spain arrive in France carrying the favourites' tag after claiming gold at the most recent European Championships. Italy, silver medallists in that competition, will be eager to begin their international campaign strongly, while France, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Belgium, Czechia, Poland and the Netherlands all bring experienced squads capable of challenging for the podium.
Group MA sees Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, Poland and Switzerland battle for qualification, while Group MB contains France, Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Czechia and a second German team.
With the last European Championship producing an exceptionally close top six, the men's competition is expected to deliver some of the most intense matches of the weekend.
Senior Women: Germany Defend European Status
The Women's competition features many of the leading European nations, including current European champions Germany and silver medallists Netherlands.
Germany headline Group WA alongside Spain, Denmark and Great Britain, creating what many will consider the toughest group in the competition. Meanwhile, Group WB sees the Netherlands face France, Italy and a second Great Britain team.
France and Spain, who both finished on the European Championship podium, will be looking to challenge the established order, while Italy and Denmark continue their development as increasingly competitive forces on the international stage.
U21 Men: Future Stars Ready to Shine
The U21 Men's competition may provide the most intriguing storylines of the entire event.
France arrive as reigning European champions and will have the advantage of competing on home waters. Germany, European silver medallists, and Spain, who secured bronze, are once again among the strongest contenders for the title.
Group UA includes Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, France B and Great Britain B, while Group UB features France, Netherlands, Great Britain and Belgium.
The category offers a glimpse of the athletes likely to shape European canoe polo for years to come, with several players already gaining experience at senior international level.
U21 Women: New Generation Chasing Success
The U21 Women's tournament brings together many of Europe's most promising young female athletes.
Spain, the reigning European champions, lead the pre-event rankings, closely followed by France and the Netherlands. Germany and Italy complete a highly competitive top five entering the weekend.
Group UW features France, Great Britain, Spain and Switzerland, while Group UX sees the Netherlands, Germany, France B and Great Britain B battle for places in the knockout stages.
With several nations fielding development squads alongside their main teams, the competition also highlights the depth of talent currently being produced across Europe.
What to Watch This Weekend
Several fascinating rivalries could define the opening stage of the 2026 Paddle Europe Canoe Polo Cup:
- Can Spain maintain their dominance in the Senior Men's competition?
- Will Germany continue their success in Women's canoe polo?
- Can France use home advantage to defend their U21 Men's crown?
- Will Spain's young women confirm their status as Europe's leading U21 nation?
- Which emerging teams can challenge the established European powers?
With European champions, medal contenders and future stars all gathered in Normandy, spectators can expect two days of high-intensity canoe polo as the race for international success in 2026 begins.
Online results
here
20.6.2026
