World Championships of Warhammer: Everything you need to know

The World Championships of Warhammer are a celebration of the global Warhammer community, bringing together hobbyists from around the world for a season-ending bonanza.

The event is held at the end of each year, in November or December, and changes host cities every few years. To earn a coveted Golden Ticket to the event, players will have to triumph at one of hundreds of qualifier events hosted all over the planet.  

The World Championships provide an opportunity to represent yourself, your local hobby community, and your country on the grandest stage, with chances to qualify located nearly everywhere that Warhammer communities gather and run organised events. 

This is truly an international competition – in 2025 there were competitors from nearly 50 countries, and more territories are represented every year. As the community near you and around the world grows, so too do the World Championships and the number of opportunities near you to qualify and participate.

The World Championships currently features tournaments for Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, and Warhammer Underworlds. 

An international competition

Our staff of judges are multilingual, and we partner with independent streamers to showcase the World Championships of Warhammer in as many languages as possible. That means Warhammer fans around the world will be able to cheer on the players from their own territory – and watch along live from home!

The World Championships are all about community and celebrating every aspect of the hobby, so there are awards up for grabs for the best player, best painter, best player of each faction and best overall, which is determined by an equal mix of gaming and painting scores.

Qualifiers will have the chance to test their mettle against the best of the best – and win some lifelong friends along the way. The World Championships always includes at least one evening of lightly organised fun, giving participants the chance to meet and socialise with Warhammer players from around the world.

How do I qualify for the World Championships of Warhammer?

Players can win a Golden Ticket to attend the World Championships of Warhammer by attending a qualifying event, which are held all over the world. 

The event is made possible by the international army of independent organisers, who are running events every week. That means each qualifier event will have its own qualifying criteria, determined by the individual organisers. At official Warhammer events, players qualify by winning the event’s Best General award, based on winning the straight matched play side of the event, or in some cases the more rounded Best Overall, which equally combines competitive and hobby scores.

Qualifying events include official Warhammer events, like the Warhammer Open series, and the National Tournament Series held in countries such as the UK, Japan, China and Korea. But most Golden Tickets are earned at independently run events. The 2025 World Championships had more than 350 qualifying events in over 50 countries, and we’re adding more all the time.

Where can I find coverage of the World Championships of Warhammer?

We have live coverage from the World Championships every year here on Warhammer Community. You’ll see our roving band of reporters and photographers around the gaming hall all weekend. 

A selection of the group stage games and the biggest Championship Bracket battles are also streamed live on the Warhammer Twitch and YouTube channels. A growing team of independent streamers also broadcast the event, with the aim of covering as many languages and game systems as possible.

How can my tournament become a qualifying event for the World Championships?

If you run a large (relative to your region) or long-running tournament or convention for your local Warhammer community and would like to be considered for qualifier status, you can fill out our qualifier form. 

We choose qualifier events based on a matrixed combination of factors scaled to each region and community. While we can't include every event, we read and carefully consider every application, wherever you hail from. And if you aren’t selected the first time you apply, do try again each year. The World Championships grow along with the Warhammer Community, meaning there are more spots available every year. The longer you’ve run your annual events, the better they fare during the annual application window.

Where are the World Championships hosted?

The World Championships of Warhammer are a true international tournament of champions. They were conceived as an event that would change its host country on a semi-regular basis, subject to the nature of venue space requirements and negotiations. 

In 2026, the World Championships moves to Barcelona, Spain, after three years in Atlanta, USA.

Barcelona ranks among the top international airports, and it’s a 20 minute train ride from the airport to the host venue. The World Championships are hosted at Fira de Barcelona, a beautiful venue centered in the heart of the city, within a short walking distance of affordable accommodations.

Barcelona itself is a vibrant and atmospheric city with plenty to do while you’re not playing Warhammer and meeting new friends at the event. It’s also well connected to the rest of Europe for those who want to continue their travels before or after the event.

It’s worth pointing out that just because the World Championships are held in Europe, it does not mean the event is dominated by European players – many players are international. During its three previous years in Atlanta, North American attendees never represented more than a third of the overall field.

Can I Visit the World Championships if I Did Not Qualify?

Yes! Attendance is free for competitors and visitors alike. Furthermore, the World Championships will always include the Global Events pop-up Warhammer store, full of exclusive events miniatures and merchandise, a wide range of expert resin products, and cool spectacles beyond just the amazing players and their armies. Feel free to come visit when it’s in town, but be respectful and considerate of competitors, and never interfere with an active game of Warhammer if it isn’t your own. We hope to see you there!