Until 6 September, World Aquatics is testing a faster four-a-side format in the Old Port. Twenty-six teams from 20 countries are playing in a smaller field—right in front of the Old Town.
A premiere already under way
Dubrovnik is hosting the first World Aquatics Water Polo 4x4 Open Championships from 31 August to 6 September 2026. The games are being played in the Old Port against the historic backdrop of the city walls. According to the international federation, 26 teams from 20 countries across five continents are taking part.
This is not a conventional world championship for national teams. It is an open debut for a new compact version of the sport. Spectators should therefore not apply every procedure and squad size from Olympic water polo to this event.
What 4x4 changes
Each team has four players in the water, the field is smaller and the possession time is shorter. This produces quicker shots, more frequent transitions and more direct one-on-one situations.
The fundamentals remain those of water polo: ball control, use of space, goalkeeping and exclusions still determine the game. The new format simply condenses those elements and aims to make them easier to see in an urban setting close to spectators.
Why the Old Port is more than a backdrop
The field is not inside an enclosed pool but in the open harbour basin. Spectators experience the game closer to the promenade and Old Town, while the event and sightlines also depend more heavily on a shared public space.
Visitors should observe barriers, pedestrian routing and any programme changes. The harbour remains a working transport area. A good viewpoint does not justify blocking emergency routes or climbing on walls.
How to find the latest results
World Aquatics lists sessions, results and current updates on the event page. Because the tournament is already under way, that page is more reliable than a static schedule from the original announcement.
For a specific visit, the date, session and same-day access arrangements are what count. Golden Beach deliberately makes no invented promise of a free seat or an unchanged start time.
What this week does not yet prove
A world premiere can show whether the format works in sporting and organisational terms. It does not yet prove that 4x4 will replace traditional water polo or already has a permanent place in every international competition.
That is precisely what makes Dubrovnik interesting: the federation is testing a shorter version publicly with an international field. After 6 September, the evaluation and further decisions will matter—not the assumption that a debut has already become a permanent standard.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
Time-sensitive information may change. Please check the linked primary source before travelling.
