The 2026 European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi will take place in an unusual format

The upcoming 2026 European Weightlifting Championships, scheduled for April 19–26 in Batumi, Georgia, will differ from previous editions of the tournament.

The main feature of the competition is that it will also serve as a qualification event for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. For this reason, not only traditional European national teams will take part in the championship.

Teams expected to compete in Batumi include Jersey, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, as well as South Africa (outside the official standings). In addition, the tournament will feature a separate Great Britain team, along with teams from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Interestingly, Armenian weightlifter Edmon Avetisyan will compete for the England team, fighting for a place at the Commonwealth Games. Athletes of Armenian origin are also included in the squads of Russia, Ukraine, Austria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The preliminary squad of Armenia is currently expanded: 22 weightlifters have been registered, including 7 reserve athletes. The final team list will be announced closer to the start of the tournament.

It is also worth noting that the European Weightlifting Championships will take place at the same time as the 2026 European Wrestling Championships, scheduled for April 20–26 in Tirana, Albania. This will create additional challenges in covering both major events, but we will do our best to provide detailed coverage of both competitions, which are important for Armenia.