The nomination process for the 2026 IBA elections is now open, with the Election Congress scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 5 December 2026.

National Federations have been invited to nominate candidates for the positions of IBA President and 12 Independent Directors, with at least one Independent Director representing each continent. The elections will also see the size of the IBA Board reduced from 18 to 13 members in accordance with Article 24.1 of the IBA Constitution.

The deadline for applications is 2 October 2026 at 18:00 CET, with the list of eligible candidates to be published no later than 16 November.

National Federations are not limited in the number of nominations they may submit. Under Article 26.1 of the IBA Constitution, a candidate may be nominated by any National Federation and does not need to be affiliated with the federation submitting the nomination. While there is no minimum quota for female candidates, National Federations are strongly encouraged to nominate qualified women.

All applications must be completed through the dedicated online portal on the IBA website. Candidates are advised to allow sufficient time to complete the required information and gather all mandatory supporting documents before submitting their applications.

Independent checks and eligibility assessment

Every applicant will undergo a comprehensive eligibility assessment before being confirmed as an eligible candidate. The process will include independent background checks conducted by an external provider as part of an enhanced level of due diligence for the 2026 elections.

Candidates seeking election as Independent Directors will also have their skills and experience assessed by the Boxing Independent Integrity Unit (BIIU) Nominations Unit against the Board’s skills map. Areas of expertise being considered include finance, marketing, sporting expertise, sports science, and athlete welfare, among others.

Following the assessment process, the BIIU Nominations Unit is expected to select at least 24 candidates to stand for election. Candidates for Independent Director positions will be required to answer additional questions and provide further information to enable the unit to assess their experience and expertise.

IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE said:

“We encourage all eligible candidates to submit an application and take this opportunity to contribute to the future leadership and continued development of our sport. We look forward to receiving your applications.”

Candidates and National Federations can consult the IBA Constitution and the Regulations on Congress and Elections for the full provisions governing the electoral process.