4 December 2026 | Istanbul, Türkiye

Connecting the global boxing community

The IBA Global Boxing Forum 2026 will bring together leaders, National Federations, industry stakeholders and partners in Istanbul to exchange ideas, explore new opportunities and discuss the future development of boxing.

Taking place on 4 December, the Forum will provide an international platform for dialogue, collaboration and the presentation of initiatives designed to support the sport and its participants.

The gathering forms part of a major week for international boxing in Istanbul, alongside the inaugural IBA President’s Cup and the IBA Ordinary Election Congress.

Forum at a glance

• Date: 4 December 2026
• Host city: Istanbul, Türkiye
• Participants: Boxing leaders, National Federations, industry stakeholders and partners
• Main focus: Boxing development, innovation and international collaboration
• Special programme: IBA media awards ceremony

A platform for the future of boxing

The Global Boxing Forum brings together representatives from across the international boxing community to share perspectives on the sport’s development and identify opportunities for cooperation.

The 2026 edition will provide a setting for discussions on new initiatives, strategic developments and projects that can strengthen boxing at different levels.

The Forum will also offer opportunities for National Federations, partners and stakeholders to exchange ideas and build connections across the international sporting community.

Key areas of discussion

The Forum’s wider focus will include:

Development of boxing

Exploring initiatives that support the growth of boxing, strengthen National Federations and create opportunities for athletes.

Innovation and new projects

Presenting developments and initiatives that can contribute to the sport’s future.

International partnerships

Encouraging dialogue and cooperation between boxing organisations, stakeholders and partners.

The future of the sport

Bringing together different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing international boxing.

The detailed programme and session topics will be announced separately.

IBA media awards

The Global Boxing Forum will host a new awards ceremony recognising journalists, photographers, media organisations and digital content creators for their contribution to boxing coverage throughout 2026.

The awards will celebrate the people and organisations whose reporting, broadcasting, photography and digital storytelling have helped bring the sport closer to audiences around the world.

Recognition will span different areas of boxing media, including:

• Media organisations and broadcasters
• Journalists
• Social media creators and bloggers
• Photographers

The awards will recognise achievements across the 2026 calendar rather than focusing solely on the events taking place in Istanbul.

Further details, including the official award categories, evaluation criteria and selection process, will be announced in November.

Programme

The detailed programme for the IBA Global Boxing Forum 2026 will be published as it becomes available.

Information on sessions, speakers and the event schedule will be added to this page following official confirmation.

Speakers and participants

The Forum will welcome representatives of the international boxing community, including leaders, National Federations, stakeholders and partners.

The official speaker line-up will be announced ahead of the event.

Istanbul: a global gathering for boxing

The Global Boxing Forum takes place on the final day of the inaugural IBA President’s Cup.

The competition will conclude with its championship finals at Sinan Erdem Sports Arena on 4 December, featuring elite international boxing and an IBA.PRO world title contest between two-time Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov (UZB) and Roderick Bautista (PHI).

The following day, 5 December, the IBA Ordinary Election Congress will bring National Federations together for the organisation’s elections and decision-making process.

Together, these events will make Istanbul a meeting point for athletes, officials, media representatives and partners from across the boxing world.