Abu Dhabi Grand Slam is a three-day international judo tournament featuring men's and women's contests across different weight categories. In 2026 it takes place from 29 to 31 October at Mubadala Arena. Each competition day lets you follow athletes in selected categories from preliminary rounds through to the medal contests.
What to watch on the tatami
Judo's dramatic moments include throws and groundwork. Athletes look for opportunities to unbalance an opponent, execute a throw or hold them down on the tatami. An ippon ends the contest, so one successful action can decide the result. Even without knowing the Japanese names of the techniques, you can follow who is attacking, who is defending and who manages to change the course of a match. For a first visit, choose one weight category and follow its draw: individual bouts then become a story about the contest for medals.
The programme is divided by day. Lighter men's and women's categories are scheduled for 29 October, the next groups compete on 30 October, and heavier categories follow on 31 October. The exact list is on the IJF page and in the 2026 event outlines. Choosing a day is especially useful if you want to support a particular athlete or can only attend once.
Planning a day at the tournament
Mubadala Arena is in Zayed Sports City on Khaleej Al Arabi Street.
First decide whether you want to watch more preliminary contests or attend the final block. The start of the preliminaries still needs confirmation in the published outlines, so check the latest IJF programme before leaving. With children or a group whose interest in judo varies, agree on the length of the visit beforehand rather than trying to cover the entire competition day without a shared plan.
Travelling to Mubadala Arena
Discuss your journey with Hola Taxi to Mubadala Arena from an Abu Dhabi hotel or from Dubai, including your return. Give the date, passenger count and whether you want the preliminary rounds or final block. If flying to the Emirates first, you can discuss airport pickup and the journey to your hotel separately.
Sources
- IJF: Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026
- IJF: Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026 Outlines, version 04 September 2026
- IJF: The Importance of Knowing the Rules
Checked on 19 October 2026 (Asia/Dubai).
