Karate Coupe de France Southern Zone Competition to be Held in Grau-du-Roi
The Southern Zone stage of the French Karate Cup (Coupe de France) will take place in Grau-du-Roi, Gard, on Saturday, January 17th and Sunday, January 18th, 2026. This marks a one-year relocation of the competition from its usual venue in Nîmes due to scheduling conflicts at the Parnasse arena, which is currently occupied by archery events.
The decision to hold the event in Grau-du-Roi was supported by Mohamed Messadaoui, head of the Arbitration Commission, and welcomed by Corinne Gouttenoire, president of the gard Karate committee. Gard is a region with a strong tradition in various styles of contact karate – light,semi,and full contact.
This year’s competition features 521 competitors. The Northern Zone stage was held in Valenciennes, and the overall finals will be hosted in Thionville, Moselle, on April 18th and 19th, 2026.
Corinne Gouttenoire will be honored at the event with the gold medal of the French Federation of Karate and Associated Disciplines (FFKDA) by its president, Gilles Cherdieu. Due to limited seating capacity (250 seats), medal presentations will be held immediately following the conclusion of each category.
Event Details:
* Dates: Saturday, January 17th & Sunday, January 18th, 2026
* Start Time: 9:15 a.m. each day
* Location: Gymnasium of the Palais des sports et de la culture, Grau-du-Roi
* Admission: €8 per day or €10 for both days
* Amenities: Refreshment bar and catering will be available on site.