More than 1,000 fencers are competing this weekend at the final four Épée and Sabre World Cups of the 2025–2026 season.
The women’s épée competition takes place in St. Maur, France, while the men’s event is held in Berne, Switzerland.
On the women’s side, the fencer to watch is Italy’s 2nd-ranked Alberta Santuccio, who captured gold at the Medellín, Colombia Grand Prix two weeks ago. The victory marked Santuccio’s fourth podium finish of the season, adding to her earlier results of two silvers and a bronze at previous World Cups.
Another top contender is Hungary’s 4th-ranked Eszter Muhari, who earned silver in Medellín after a thrilling 13–12 overtime loss to Santuccio in the final. Muhari has also reached the podium four times this season, highlighted by a gold medal and two silvers across the three Grand Prix events.
Event: FIE World Cup
Place: St. Maur, France
Weapon: Epee
Gender: Women
Dates: 22-24 May 2026
Info: W, Individual & Team Epee
On the men’s side, the fencer to watch is Japan’s top-seeded Koki Kano, the reigning Olympic champion from Paris 2024 and World champion from Tbilisi 2025. After a surprisingly difficult season in which he failed to reach the podium in his first six events, Kano returned to dominant form two weeks ago by capturing gold at the Medellín Grand Prix with a 15–9 victory over Italy’s now 2nd-ranked Matteo Galassi.
While Galassi is firmly among the favourites, another fencer to watch is Hungary’s 3rd-ranked Gergely Siklosi, who skipped the Medellín Grand Prix in order to focus his preparation on the Berne World Cup.
Event: FIE World Cup
Place: Berne, Switzerland
Weapon: Epee
Gender: Men
Dates: 22-24 May 2026
Info: M, Individual & Team Epee
The sabre competitions are being held in Lima, Peru, which hosted the Junior and Cadet World Championships in March, for the women and Cairo, Egypt for the men.
In the women’s field, the favourite is clearly the top-ranked and defending World champion (Tbilisi, Georgia 2025) Yana Egorian of _AIN. Egorian, the 2016 Olympic champion (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2016) won the Grand Prix in Incheon, Korea three weeks ago, her 3rd trip to the podium this season.
With her victory in Incheon, Egorian replaced Japan’s Emura Misaki as the World #1. Emura will not compete in Lima, as she is recovering from an injury and preparing for the Asian Zonal Championships next month.
Another fencer to watch will be the 6th-ranked Maia Chamberlain of the United States, who took the silver in Incheon, the best Grand Prix or World Cup result of her career.
Event: FIE World Cup
Place: Lima, Peru
Weapon: Sabre
Gender: Women
Dates: 22-24 May 2026
Info: W, Individual & Team Sabre
On the men’s side, one of the fencers to watch is Georgia’s world No. 1 Sandro Bazadze, the reigning World champion from Tbilisi 2025. Bazadze earned his first podium finish of the season in Incheon, where he captured bronze, and appears to be rounding back into top form at the right time.
Bazadze will face a strong challenge from France’s 2nd-ranked Sebastien Patrice, who is coming off a dominant victory at the Incheon Grand Prix. Known for his distinctive hopping footwork that often leaves opponents off balance, Patrice has enjoyed a spectacular season with five podium finishes. Across the three Grand Prix events, he captured gold in Incheon and Tunis, Tunisia, along with a bronze in Orléans, France.
Event: FIE World Cup
Place: Cairo, Egypt
Weapon: Sabre
Gender: Men
Dates: 22-24 May 2026
Info: M, Individual & Team Sabre