Global High Diving Season Set: World Cup Returns to Fort Lauderdale and Porto Flavia in 2026

World Aquatics sets the High Diving World Cup calendar for 2026 with series stops in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) and Porto Flavia in Iglesias, Sardinia (ITA).

In addition to welcoming back the sport’s premier annual competition, Fort Lauderdale will also host the second edition of the World Aquatics High Diving Junior Championships in 2026, followed again by the junior event in 2028.

2026 High Diving Calendar

• 15–17 May – World Aquatics High Diving World Cup, Fort Lauderdale (USA)
• 15–17 May – World Aquatics High Diving Junior Championships, Fort Lauderdale (USA)
• 11–12 July – World Aquatics High Diving World Cup, Porto Flavia (ITA)

Multi-Year Hosting Agreements Strengthen Long-Term Stability
Last June, World Aquatics signed a multi-year hosting agreement with Italy’s iconic Marmeeting event, securing Porto Flavia as a regular World Cup venue. The event debuted in August 2025 with a new concept for World Aquatics high diving competitions: athletes launching from dramatic natural cliffs directly into the Mediterranean Sea, rather than from a constructed tower.

Most recently, World Aquatics reached an agreement with organisers in Fort Lauderdale to hold three consecutive High Diving World Cup events from 2026 to 2028, along with the High Diving Junior Championships in 2026 and 2028.

Fort Lauderdale, home to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, has long been a cornerstone of elite aquatic sports. Recently, the city completed a $47 million renovation of the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, which now features one of the world’s highest permanent high diving platforms. In 2023, the venue hosted the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup for the first time, solidifying its role as a key location for the sport's growth.

When the World Cup returns to the United States next season, it will do so with a compelling new storyline: the competition venue is home to defending world champion and reigning World Cup winner, James Lichtenstein, where he trains year-round. The 31-year-old American secured both his world title and World Cup crown in 2025 with clutch, come-from-behind final dives utilising his signature high-difficulty back quint, marking a breakthrough moment for high diving in the United States.

“Hosting the World Cup and the Junior Championships in Fort Lauderdale is a huge moment for high diving in the United States,” said Lichtenstein. “This community helped shape my career, and to see the sport return here with this level of visibility means a lot. This tower is the best place in the world to train and compete, and I’m excited that young athletes will get to experience it. This is something I’m genuinely looking forward to.”

USA Diving President Lee Michaud also proudly welcomed the announcement of Fort Lauderdale as host.

"Fort Lauderdale has truly become a home for high diving, and we are excited to welcome the world back in 2026,” said Michaud. “The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center provides an environment where athletes can perform at their best, enhanced by the vibrant energy of the city and its coastline. We look forward to supporting another successful World Cup and are eager to see the next generation of young athletes take the stage during the Junior Championships.”