Best BJJ Tournaments: The 2026 Ultimate Guide
Discover the most prestigious championships in the world. Compare prize money, participant numbers, and historical data to plan your 2026 competition season.
While sparring is an excellent way to test your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, it is incomparable to the intensity of competition. Whether you are a fan or a fighter, understanding the “Majors” of BJJ is essential.
The landscape of Jiu-Jitsu has shifted dramatically in the last two years. We’ve moved from competing solely for medals to an era of million-dollar tournaments and professional paydays.
2026 Market Update: The rivalry between the ADCC and the new Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has permanently changed athlete pay. For the first time, grappling tournaments now offer prize pools rivaling major MMA organizations.
Top BJJ Tournaments by the Numbers
Before diving into the details, here is a quick snapshot of the financial hierarchy in modern grappling tournaments as of the 2025 season:
| Tournament | Top Prize (Men’s) | Format | Prestige Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| CJI (Craig Jones Invitational) | $1,000,000 | No-Gi | Elite Professional |
| IBJJF “The Crown” | $20,000 | Gi | Elite Professional |
| ADCC World Championship | $10,000 | No-Gi | Legendary |
| Abu Dhabi World Pro | $10,000 | Gi | High Professional |
| IBJJF Worlds | $4k – $7k (Est.) | Gi | The Gold Standard |
The “Big 4” IBJJF Major Championships
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) remains the largest organizing body in the sport. Their “Grand Slam” consists of four key tournaments.
1. World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship (The Mundials)
Held annually at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California, “The Worlds” is the Super Bowl of Gi Jiu-Jitsu. It is the only tournament that requires competitors to qualify via points earned at other events, ensuring only the elite black belts compete.
2024 Data Insight: The event saw over 4,000 competitors from 70+ countries. In the Black Belt finals, the submission rate hit an astonishing 61%, proving that the highest level is more aggressive than ever.
2. European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Held every January (typically in Paris or Lisbon), the Europeans kickoff the competition year. It is statistically the largest BJJ tournament in the world by participant count.
Data Insight: In 2024, the event featured over 5,000 athletes. For colored belts (Blue/Purple/Brown), this is often considered the hardest tournament to win simply due to the massive bracket sizes, which can require winning 6-7 matches to claim gold.
3. Pan IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Hosted in Florida (Osceola Heritage Park), “Pans” is the second most important Gi tournament after Worlds. It attracts the massive concentration of Brazilian talent living in the United States.
Data Insight: In 2024, Pans saw nearly 4,300 athletes. The Black Belt divisions here are often a direct preview of the World Championships occurring a few months later.
4. Brazilian National Championship (Brasileiro)
Held in São Paulo, the Brasileiro is legendary for its difficulty. Many argue it is harder to win than Worlds because hundreds of tough local Brazilians—who can’t get visas to travel to the US—compete here.
2024 Data Insight: This tournament shattered records with 7,143 competitors, making it a massive logistical feat. The Heavyweight division alone had the highest average ELO rating of any tournament on the circuit.
The Professional Grappling Era (No-Gi)
If you prefer submission grappling (No-Gi), the landscape is dominated by two giants with very different philosophies.
Craig Jones Invitational (CJI)
Founded in 2024 by Craig Jones, the CJI disrupted the entire industry by offering $1 million USD to the winners of its two divisions (Under 80kg and Over 80kg). It features a unique “Pit” wall system instead of mats to prevent resets.
Why it matters for 2026: With “show money” of $10,001 just for participating, CJI attracts the highest-level professional talent who prioritize financial return over traditional medals.
ADCC World Championship
Held bi-annually (next event: 2026), the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) is historically the most prestigious No-Gi title a grappler can hold. Unlike IBJJF, it allows all styles—Wrestling, Sambo, Judo, and BJJ—to compete under a ruleset that penalizes guard pulling.
The Data:
• Prize Money: $10,000 (Division Winner) / $40,000 (Absolute Winner)
• Competitors: Limited to 16 per division (Invites + Trials Winners only)
• Duration: 10 Minutes (Finals are 20 Minutes)
Abu Dhabi World Pro (AJP Tour)
The AJP Tour (formerly UAEJJF) has invested millions into professionalizing the sport. The Abu Dhabi World Pro is their season finale.
Key Stat: The AJP Tour pays out cash prizes even to purple and brown belts, totaling over $800,000 annually across their Grand Slam events (Rio, Moscow, Tokyo, London, Abu Dhabi).
Conclusion
The 2026 season offers more variety than any time in history. If your goal is prestige and the traditional path, the IBJJF Grand Slam (Worlds, Euros, Pans, Brasileiro) remains the gold standard.
However, if you are an elite grappler looking for a career-changing payday, the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) has set a new benchmark that cannot be ignored.
Quick Recap: Top 3 to Watch in 2026
- ADCC 2026: The return of the “Olympics of Grappling.”
- CJI 3: Expect even bigger disruptions and prize pools.
- IBJJF Worlds: The eternal proving ground for Gi dominance.
Ready to compete? Check out our Competition Prep for BJJ Your complete guide to tournament success—from training strategy to competition day execution
