The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) begins a landmark year for the sport, as 2026 marks 100 years since both the ITTF’s foundation and the first World Table Tennis Championships, staged in London in 1926.
A century on, the story comes full circle: the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals return to London from 28 April to 10 May 2026, with action across two iconic venues — the OVO Arena Wembley and the Copper Box Arena.
The event will bring together 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams, uniting the global table tennis family in the very city where it all began.
“One hundred years on, we return to London, the birthplace of our Federation and the World Championships,” said ITTF President Petra Sörling. “In this centenary year, we will honour the pioneers who built our sport, celebrate the champions who inspire us today, and welcome the next generation who will shape the future. I invite everyone across the table tennis family to join us in making 2026 a celebration worthy of this remarkable.
| A Centenary Celebration Across Every Table Tennis Events The centenary year will be defined by a calendar that showcases the full breadth of table tennis: elite and emerging stars, Para champions, masters players, and esports.Across 2026, the ITTF’s world title events will celebrate table tennis at every age, in every category, and in every discipline.ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup Macao | 30 March – 5 AprilITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London | 28 April – 10 MayITTF World Masters Championships Gangneung | 5-12 JuneITTF World Esports Championships | Summer 2026ITTF World Table Tennis Para Championships Pattaya | 13-19 NovemberITTF World Youth Championships Manama | 21-28 NovemberITTF Mixed Team World Cup Chengdu | 29 November – 6 DecemberThese events will be complemented by a year-long programme of centenary activations and storytelling, designed to honour the sport’s history while inspiring the next generation. |
| Honouring 100 Years, Building the Next Across the season, special moments will celebrate the pioneers, champions, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans who have shaped the last century. To mark this milestone, the ITTF has unveiled a special centenary logo and branding that will be featured throughout 2026, celebrating 100 years of the sport. |
From its earliest days, table tennis has been a sport that travels easily, welcomes widely, and connects communities, producing moments that reached far beyond the field of play.
In its centenary year, the ITTF will celebrate that spirit on a global stage – from the sport’s role in opening doors between nations during Ping Pong Diplomacy, to its rise on the Olympic and Paralympic stage, as well as its ongoing global growth and new digital frontiers.
The ITTF’s centenary is not only a reflection on history, but a launchpad for the sport’s next era. It will spotlight the people and places who will define the next 100 years.