Photo Credit: Marc Hunt / Athlete: Michal Smolen
The world’s best canoe slalom and kayak cross athletes are heading to America’s heartland and the USA Canoe/Kayak Team will be there to compete on home water.
The 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships will take place July 20–25 at RIVERSPORT OKC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. More than 300 athletes from over 50 nations will battle for world titles in Canoe Slalom (C1), Kayak Slalom (K1), and Kayak Cross. For many international competitors, it will be their first chance to race at the venue that will host canoe slalom and kayak cross events at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
This event marks the first major qualification event on the road to LA28, making it a pivotal moment for athletes chasing the Olympic dream and a rare opportunity for American paddling fans to see world-class competition right here at home.
2026 USA Slalom & Kayak Cross World Championships Team Roster
The American Canoe Association is proud to support the following athletes representing the USA Canoe/Kayak Team at the 2026 World Championships:
Women’s Kayak (WK1): Evy Leibfarth, Ria Sribar, Marcella Altman
Men’s Kayak (MK1): Michal Smolen, Kaelin Friedenson, Tyler Westfall
Women’s Canoe (WC1): Evy Leibfarth, Marcella Altman, Carden Oetting
Men’s Canoe (MC1): Casey Eichfeld, Bug Lokken, Nathaniel Francis
Women’s Kayak Cross (WKX1): Evy Leibfarth, Isabella Altman, Marcella Altman
Men’s Kayak Cross (MKX1): Kaelin Friedenson, Michal Smolen, Tyler Westfall
These athletes are locked in and ready to compete. In the most recent ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup, Evy Leibfarth qualified for every women’s final and placed in the top 10 in each event, taking home two medals in kayak cross individual (bronze) and kayak cross head-to-head (silver). At the first World Cup of the season, Michal Smolen made an impressive return to racing, placing 4th in MK1, after taking a break from competition to coach in New Zealand and China.
We hope you will join us in OKC to cheer on the USA Canoe/Kayak Team and witness the extreme speed, precision, and athleticism of these athletes as they take on the world’s best in pursuit of a World Championship title and a step closer to LA28.
What to Expect in OKC
Beyond the racing, RIVERSPORT will be buzzing for six days of competition and celebration:
- World-class racing across Canoe Slalom, Kayak Slalom, and Kayak Cross
- The Olympic Experience featuring hands-on activities and a look at the LA28 venue
- World Festival with food, live entertainment, and daily programming
- Route 66 Classic Car Show, celebrating the iconic highway’s 100th anniversary
- Opportunities to get on the water yourself, from the surf wave to flatwater stand-up paddleboards and kayaks
Event Schedule
Sat, July 18
- Opening Ceremony (Free)
Mon, July 20
- Kayak Cross
- World Festival
- Route 66 Classic Car Show
Tue, July 21
- Kayak Slalom
- World Festival
- Route 66 Classic Car Show
Wed, July 22
- Canoe Slalom
- World Festival
- Route 66 Classic Car Show
Thu, July 23
- Kayak Slalom
- World Festival
- Route 66 Classic Car Show
Fri, July 24
- Canoe Slalom
- Olympic Experience
- World Festival
- Route 66 Classic Car Show
Sat, July 25
- Kayak Cross
- Olympic Experience
- World Festival
- Route 66 Classic Car Show
Get Your Tickets
Tickets to the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships are on sale now at okc2026.com/tickets.
Can’t Make It to Oklahoma City?
You can still be part of the action from anywhere:
- Stream live and on-demand coverage of the competition on Planet Canoe’s YouTube channel (requires a Planet Canoe membership)
- Watch the finals broadcast nationally on Peacock via NBC
- Follow @acapaddlesports and @usacanoekayakteam on Instagram for regular updates
- Results & Start Lists: https://www.canoeicf.com/canoe-slalom-world-championships/oklahoma-city-2026/results