Skydivers from 29 nations will compete for world titles in Artistic Events, Canopy Piloting, Canopy Piloting Freestyle, Formation Skydiving and Speed Skydiving in Arizona
FAI World Skydiving Championships are heading to Skydive Arizona in Eloy from October 18–24, bringing reigning champions and their competitors together for a week of competition.
The championships taking place are:
- 16th FAI World Artistic Events Championships
- 11th FAI World Canopy Piloting Championships
- 5th FAI World Canopy Piloting Freestyle Championships
- 27th FAI World Formation Skydiving Championships
- 6th FAI World Speed Skydiving Championships
Canopy Piloting
Curt Bartholomew heads into the championships as the defending overall world champion and current world number one. The American won the title in Pretoria in 2024.
Among his challengers are France’s Cédric Veiga Rios, the reigning European champion and world number two, and Italy’s Armando Fattoruso, ranked third.
Bartholomew is also a leading contender in Canopy Piloting Freestyle, where he holds the number one ranking after earning silver at the 2024 World Championships. Fattoruso enters the Freestyle competition as the reigning European champion, currently ranked sixth in the world.
Formation Skydiving
The United States won all four titles at the previous Formation Skydiving World Championships: 4-Way Open, 4-Way Female, 4-Way VFS and 8-Way Open.
American teams will again compete for medals in Eloy. FAI has identified France as a strong challenger in both 4-Way Open and 4-Way Female, with Belgium looking to make its mark in 4-Way and Qatar in 8-Way.
Photo courtesy of FAI.org
Artistic Events
The United States enters as the reigning world champion nation in Freestyle Skydiving, while France holds the Freefly world title. Both nations will be represented in Eloy.
Speed Skydiving
Reigning Open world champion Niklas Daniel of the United States returns to compete, alongside Spain’s Sebastián García Gutiérrez, the reigning Junior world champion. Australia’s Natisha Dingle will defend the Female world title she won in 2024.
Looking Ahead to The World Games
Eloy also marks the beginning of FAI’s campaign towards The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe, Germany, where Canopy Piloting will feature in the sports program.
FAI plans to use the next three years to build international recognition of the discipline and its athletes, beginning with these championships.
FAI Skydiving Commission President Rina Gallo said she was looking forward to watching the athletes compete for world titles, while highlighting the importance of Eloy in the lead up to The World Games.
Following the Championships
FAI will share regular updates on its Facebook and Instagram channels.
Competition runs from October 18–24, 2026, in Eloy, Arizona, USA.
Source: FAI press release, October 12, 2026.
