Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The 2026 World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships are scheduled for August 21–28 at the outdoor Kantrida Swimming Pools in Rijeka, adjacent to the Adriatic Sea. The venue previously hosted the 2023 Junior European Championships. Across eight days, 17 finals will be held, starting with three champions crowned on day one, followed by two finals daily—one for girls and one for boys.
Divers from 46 nations will compete, with teams ranging from the United States (21 divers) and Canada (18), to the host Croatia (11). Individual events are split into age groups: A group (16–18 years) and B group (14–15 years), for athletes born between 2008 and 2012. Synchro and mixed team events allow participation from either age group.
Notable returning athletes include Tereza Jelinkova of Czechia, last edition's A group girls' 3m springboard bronze medalist, and former B group medalists now competing in the A group such as Mexico's Rut Paez (three-time Rio gold medalist), Germany's Finn Awe, Australia's Maggie Grey, American Kayla Jensen, and Ukrainian divers Kseniia Bochek, Mark Hrytsenko, and Valerii Malieiev.
A notable absence is ElliReese Niday of the United States, who was expected to make her junior world championship debut. The 14-year-old, recently fourth at the senior level 10m World Cup Super Final, is recovering from a broken vertebra and will not compete.