The 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships will be held from March 12 to 15 at the Taipei Arena. This is the first time Taiwan has hosted a world-class international tug of war competition and represents a milestone in the development of the sport on the island. The Ministry of Sports (the Ministry) will support the national team’s preparations and work with the Chinese Taipei Tug of War Association to host the event to the highest international standards, showcasing Taiwan’s sporting strength and event-hosting capabilities.
According to the Ministry, the event is expected to attract teams from 20 countries, with over 100 teams and more than 1,000 athletes and officials competing in Taiwan. Taipei Arena will become a major international stage for tug of war competition. Among the most anticipated participants is the host nation’s Taiwan women’s 500kg team. The team has achieved six consecutive gold medals at the World Games and secured a third straight title at the 2024 World Indoor Tug of War Championships, earning a reputation as an “invincible force” in international tug of war.
To maintain their championship momentum, all nine gold medalists from last year’s World Games will return to competition. The national team began intensive training in January this year. Even during the Lunar New Year holiday, they only had a brief three-day break before resuming training, demonstrating their determination to defend their title.
In 2021, Taiwan secured the hosting rights for the World Indoor Tug of War Championships for the first time, receiving over 90% support in an online vote by member nations of the Tug of War International Federation. This reflects strong international recognition of Taiwan’s tug of war prowess, and is also the achievement of Taiwan’s long-term efforts in promoting competitive sports and international exchange. Last November, the international federation’s representatives visited Taiwan to review preparations and offered professional advice on event organization, venue layout, and competition procedures.
The Ministry emphasizes that hosting a world-class tug of war event in Taiwan for the first time is highly significant. In future, Taiwan will continue to host international competitions, strengthen athletes’ competitive performance, and enhance event quality to deepen sports diplomacy. The goal is to let the world see Taiwan while giving the public an opportunity to experience the excitement and emotion of top-level international competition up-close. Citizens are warmly invited to Taipei Arena this March to cheer on Taiwan’s tug of war athletes and keep the championship trophy at home.
Sources: Ministry of the Interior
