St. Kitts and Nevis hosts 2026 NACHC Beach Handball Championship 

St. Kitts and Nevis hosted the fourth edition of the North America and the Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball Championship. The three day event was held  from 24 to 26 April, 2026 at North Frigate Bay.

A total of 17 men’s and women’s teams from 10 nations participated in the championship and the event was also a pathway for the teams to the 2026 IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championship which is scheduled to play in Croatia, Europe in June.

The 2026 edition of the championship witnessed highest participation in its history. The championship was launched in 2019 with participation of 16 teams and in the 2022, 14 teams participated and in 2024 the number of the participation of the teams were 11.

This year 10 men’s teams and 7 women’s teams competed with each other. In the tournament a total 42 matches were scheduled, in which 27 matches were scheduled for men’s teams and 15 matches for women’s teams.

The 17 teams were split into two groups and each team in the group competed with the other once. 

Women’s teams: 

Group A: United States of America, Antigua and Barbuda, Canada  

Group B: Puerto Rio, Mexico, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis

Men’s teams:

Group A: United States of America, Canada, Mexico, Dominica, Haiti

Group B: Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, St, Kitts and Nevis, Cuba, Antigua and   Barbuda 

Additionally, since 2009 St. Kitts and Nevis has been an IHF Member Federation. This year twin islands hosted the championship reflecting the handball development which has been increasing in recent years.

The Caribbean’s first beach handball league took place in July 2019  after their debut in NACHC Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball Championship held in Trinidad and Tobago in July.  

This year Antigua and Barbuda debuted in the tournament in both men’s and women’s competitions. 

Anthony Morris

Reporter at SKN News | [email protected] |  + postsBio ⮌

Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.