The 2026 International Fencing Federation (FIE) season starts off with a bang this weekend, with four competitions including the sabre Grand Prix in Tunis, Tunisia, as well as World Cups in Hong Kong, China (women’s foil), Paris, France (men’s foil), and Fujairah, UAE (women’s and men’s épée).
While more than 1,300 fencers will compete this weekend, the focus will be on two of the hottest fencers in the world: foilist Ryan Choi of Hong Kong, China, and sabreur Krisztián Rabb of Hungary.
Choi has been dominant since winning the Grand Prix in Seoul last May. He followed this by winning the Asian Zonal Championships in Bali, the World Championships in Tbilisi last July, and the World Cup in Fukuoka last month, ending the year at the top of the senior foil rankings.
Rabb won his first Grand Prix in Seoul last May, followed by victory at the first Grand Prix of the 2025–2026 season in Orléans last month.
Among the other fencers to watch will be Lee Kiefer of the United States, who followed up her Olympic foil gold medal in Paris 2024 by winning the World championship in Tbilisi, as well Koki Kano of Japan, who also won epee gold in Paris and Tbilisi.
Event: FIE Grand Prix
Place: Tunis, Tunisia
Weapon: Sabre
Gender: Women & Men
Date: 9-11 January 2026
Info: W Individual Sabre, M Individual Sabre
Event: FIE Senior World Cup
Place: Fujairah, United Arab Emirates
Weapon: Epee
Gender: Women & Men
Date: 8-11 January 2026
Info: W Individual Epee, M Individual Epee, W Team Epee, M Team Epee
Event: FIE Senior World Cup
Place: Hong Kong, China
Weapon: Foil
Gender: Women
Date: 9-11 January 2026
Info: W Individual Foil, W Team Foil
Event: FIE Senior World Cup
Place: Paris, France
Weapon: Foil
Gender: Men
Date: 9-11 January 2026
Info: M Individual Foil, M Team Foil