Bahrain has officially declined to host the 2026 World Wrestling Championships, which were originally scheduled to take place in the capital city of Manama from September 5–13. Mikhail Mamiashvili, President of the Russian Wrestling Federation, announced this development, noting that a new host city will be selected shortly.

According to Mamiashvili, around five or six countries have already expressed interest in stepping in as organizers. Potential candidates include Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—the latter having significant experience in hosting Asian Wrestling Championships. While several European nations have also shown interest, Mamiashvili suggested that the tournament is more likely to remain in Asia, as it was initially allocated to that region.

The strong competition to host the event highlights the global significance and prestige of the World Wrestling Championships. The international wrestling community is now awaiting a final decision to ensure that preparations can proceed without further delay.