TDP2026, in Rovereto 130 teams from 8 nations
The 38th edition of the International Tournament “Città della Pace” is almost here. It will traditionally take place over the Easter weekend, from April 3rd to 5th, 2026, and was presented at a press conference in the “Sala Amici” of the Mart Museum on Saturday, March 21st. The event, which has been among the most anticipated in Rovereto and Vallagarina for over thirty years, continues the tradition established in recent years, focusing on the youth sectors of three disciplines (football, water polo, and fencing), placing the values on which it is based at its core: friendship, fair play, encounter, and peace. These values are central not only on the fields but also during the tournament’s collateral events, such as the Opening Ceremony at the Bell of the Fallen and the parade through the streets of the city center.
SPORTS – Three sports will be featured again this year: over the Easter weekend in Rovereto and Vallagarina, there will be football (U8, U11, U13, U15, U15 women’s, U17, and U17 women’s categories), water polo (U12), and fencing (ages 10 to 13). After last year’s inaugural event, fencing returns, thanks to the collaboration with RoveretoScherma: on Saturday, April 4th, boys and girls from across Northern Italy will compete. For football and water polo, there will be approximately 130 participating teams, for a total of 2,500 athletes of all ages who will experience a weekend of sport and celebration in Rovereto. In football, the Under 17 women’s category will make its debut, underscoring the desire to increasingly focus on a rapidly growing women’s sector, also thanks to the collaboration with the Trento Committee of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
THE NATIONS – Eight nations will participate in the tournament, with Germany confirmed (with Burk from the twinned city of Forcheim, as well as Anhausen, Ilshofen, Landshut, Schwendi, and Germaringen), Austria (with its other twinned city, Kufstein and Wasserball Tirol), Albania (with the traditional participation of AK Shkodra), the Czech Republic, with the Under 8s from the twinned city of Dolni Dobrouc, Switzerland (with the Under 15 men’s and Under 17 women’s teams from Au-Berneck), and Malta (with Mgarr FC). Japan has also confirmed its participation (with the Milan Academy of Aichi, the Under 11s). A few days ago, the Organizing Committee had to register the withdrawal of Kuwait, which had already registered five teams in various categories and purchased plane tickets, but due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, will be unable to travel to Rovereto. The eighth nation is obviously Italy, with a strong presence of local and Northern Italian teams, as well as other teams traveling several miles to be there, such as Barbato Football Academy (Lazio).
VOLUNTEERS – Record numbers are being seen in the TDP Volunteers project, which involves young people as volunteers on the fields during the event. They are divided into a Junior Team (primarily high school students) and an Action Team (older volunteers who will coordinate small groups of Junior Team). The project is supported by Cassa Rurale Alto Garda – Rovereto, which is this year’s Official Volunteer Partner of the Tournament. There have been many participants, the highest number in recent years: more than 150 young people will be involved in a wide variety of activities over the Easter weekend: accompanying and supporting the Italian and international teams, managing the logistics of the competition sites, from the competitive phase to the collateral events, from the information point to the sale of merchandise, and so on. Manage entertainment, communications and social media activities, and much more. One shared goal: to make #tdp2026 unforgettable.
