The official presentation of the event took place at the Petxina Sports and Cultural Complex, bringing together prominent figures from the sports world. Attendees included José Manuel Brotons, Head of Sports Service at the Municipal Sports Foundation; Luis Cervera, Director General of Sports for the Generalitat Valenciana; Juan Carlos Cobos, Event Director; and Alejandro del Val, Secretary of the management committee. The ceremony marked the kickoff for a competition anticipated to be its most well-attended ever.
La Fonteta will become the hub for national taekwondo, welcoming athletes, coaches, referees, clubs, and families from across Spain and three continents. The presence of Joel González Bonilla, Olympic champion and ambassador for this edition, significantly enhances the event. González, recognized as one of Spain's top taekwondo practitioners, will lead a special clinic on Friday, October 9th, open to athletes from various categories, where he will share the keys to his success.
José Manuel Brotons highlighted the Open's established status, congratulating the Valencian federation for its history and the large number of participating teams. Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Cobos emphasized that the Valencian Community Open is a national and European benchmark, aiming to improve taekwondo's image and extending the competition by an extra day for attendees' enjoyment. Approximately 1,500 participants are expected.
A major novelty this year is the event's relocation to the Fonteta pavilion, an iconic Valencia venue with a capacity of nearly 9,000 spectators. This venue change aims to match the Open's growth and surpass last year's records in both athlete and club participation, with the goal of making the 2026 edition the most attended to date.
The Open will feature participants from eleven countries, including Morocco, France, Ukraine, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, Italy, Colombia, Ecuador, Romania, and the United Kingdom, who will compete against national delegations from various autonomous communities. The program includes cadet, junior, and senior bouts, as well as poomsae, freestyle, and parapoomsae. Additionally, parallel activities such as the 'Last Round Party' and the 'Alegal Taekwondo Party' have been organized.
