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Wichita picked to host 2026 USA Judo Youth Nationals at Bob Brown Expo Hall
Summary
Visit Wichita will host the 2026 USA Judo Youth Nationals in March at Bob Brown Expo Hall, the mayor announced Oct. 30; Visit Wichita said the event will draw athletes and families nationwide and estimated substantial direct economic impact.
Visit Wichita has been selected to host the 2026 USA Judo Youth Nationals at Bob Brown Expo Hall, Mayor (Speaker 1) announced at the Oct. 30 mayor’s briefing.
Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita (Speaker 2), said the event will bring “hundreds of young athletes, coaches, officials, and families from across the country” to Wichita and thanked staff who helped secure the bid. Howell described the event as an economic driver, saying it would result in what he phrased as “nearly half $1,000,000 in direct economic impact.”
The mayor framed the judo championship as part of a broader strategy to position Wichita as a national host for youth and amateur sports, citing recent firsts such as the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships and multi-year hosting of U.S. Youth Soccer’s National Presidents Cup.
City leaders said the events are intended to boost visitor spending, increase Wichita’s national visibility and support local businesses. Mayor (Speaker 1) credited Visit Wichita and community partners for the recruitment work that brought national competitions to the city.
Visit Wichita and the mayor’s office did not provide a formal breakdown of the economic-impact estimate at the briefing. Howell’s estimate was presented in his remarks as quoted above.
The city did not announce ticketing, volunteer or scheduling details beyond the month and venue; Visit Wichita is the lead organizer for the event and will provide further logistical information as it becomes available.
