STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Trophy 2026 – Budapest’s Most Thrilling Summer Weekend

If you’re looking for something truly unique to do in Budapest this June, look no further. The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Trophy is coming to the Hungarian capital on June 5–6, 2026, bringing the world’s most electrifying lumbersport competition to the iconic Városligeti Műjégpálya (City Park Ice Rink). Whether you’re a sports fan or just curious about something completely different, this is one Budapest event you won’t want to miss.

What Is STIHL TIMBERSPORTS®?

STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® is a professional competitive sport rooted in the age-old craft of timber cutting. Its origins go back to the 19th century, when loggers in Australia, New Zealand, and North America would challenge each other to see who could cut fastest and most efficiently with an axe or saw. What started as friendly forest-floor rivalries has evolved over more than 150 years into a globally recognised, elite-level sport — one that STIHL has developed into a prestigious international series.

Today, the athletes who compete in STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® are extraordinary combinations of speed, raw power, razor-sharp technique, and intense concentration. The very best in the world can complete a full four-discipline sequence in under a minute — making every moment on the competition floor an adrenaline rush for the crowd.

Why Budapest in June 2026?

Budapest last hosted a major STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® event back in 2014 (the Champions Trophy), so the city’s return to the world stage after more than a decade is a big deal. This time, it’s even bigger: the 2026 World Trophy features not one but three world championship titles up for grabs over a single, action-packed weekend. And for the very first time in the sport’s history, a Women’s World Championship will be held — and Budapest gets to host it. That alone makes this a landmark moment in lumbersport history.

The venue, Városligeti Műjégpálya in the heart of City Park, is one of Budapest’s most beloved public spaces, just a short walk from Heroes’ Square and Vajdahunyad Castle. Combining a world-class sporting spectacle with one of Budapest’s most scenic settings makes for an unforgettable experience.

The Full Weekend Program

Here’s what’s happening and when:

• Friday, June 5 – 19:00: Rookie World Championship
• Saturday, June 6 – 16:00: Women’s World Championship (a world first!)
• Saturday, June 6 – 19:00: World Trophy (elite men’s final)

Saturday tickets are valid for both the Women’s World Championship and the World Trophy, giving you a full evening of non-stop competition. Please note the event is not suitable for children under 6 years of age.

Three Championships, One Weekend

Rookie World Championship – Friday, June 5, 19:00

The opening night belongs to the rising stars of lumbersport. Athletes under 25 compete across five disciplines — Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, Standing Block Chop, and Spring Board — using slightly smaller-diameter logs than the pros. Look out for Hungary’s own Urbán Ádám, a 17-year-old prodigy who has already competed at international level, placed second in international competitions, and is a member of the Hungarian national team since 2025. On home soil in Budapest, he could achieve something very special.

Women’s World Championship – Saturday, June 6, 16:00

This is history in the making. For the first time ever in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® series, a Women’s World Championship will be held, and Budapest has the honour of hosting it. The very first women’s world champion in lumbersport will be crowned right here, making this an extraordinary moment for sports fans and casual visitors alike. Come early, get your seat, and witness sporting history unfold.

World Trophy – Saturday, June 6, 19:00

The grand finale. The World Trophy is widely considered the crown jewel of competitive lumbersport — a head-to-head, knockout-format competition where approximately 16 of the world’s best athletes line up side by side and race through four disciplines back to back, without rest. Only the most complete athletes — those who combine strength, speed, precision, and mental focus — can triumph.

Hungary’s own Strúbel Bence, just 23 years old and already a three-time Hungarian national champion, will represent the home crowd in this event. Expect the atmosphere to be electric when he steps up to compete.

The Four Competition Disciplines

What makes STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® so spectacular to watch? It’s the sheer variety and visual drama of each discipline:

• Stock Saw: Competitors use a factory-spec chainsaw (STIHL MS 661 C-M) to cut a clean disc from a horizontally fixed log — pure speed and precision.
• Underhand Chop: Athletes stand on top of a horizontal log and swing an axe downward to split through the wood from both sides — one of the most jaw-dropping sights in the sport.
• Single Buck: Using a two-metre-long hand saw, competitors slice a full disc from a fixed log — a true test of rhythm and endurance.
• Standing Block Chop: A vertically fixed log is attacked with an axe from both sides in the fastest time possible, simulating the real-life action of felling a tree.

The equipment itself is remarkable: chainsaws powered by engines over 90cc, two-metre-long hand saws, and competition axes so sharp they could genuinely be used for shaving. This is precision engineering in the service of pure athletic spectacle.

Practical Information for Visitors

Getting there is easy — the Városligeti Műjégpálya is located at Olof Palme sétány 5, 1146 Budapest, well connected by metro (M1 – Széchenyi fürdő or Hősök tere) and bus. City Park itself is a wonderful place to spend the afternoon before the evening events begin, with the Museum of Fine Arts, Vajdahunyad Castle, and the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths all within walking distance.

Tickets are already on sale, with a two-day pass available when purchasing Friday’s event ticket. You can book your spot and find all further information at the official ticket vendor’s site.

A Once-in-a-Generation Budapest Experience

Whether you’ve never heard of competitive lumbersport before or you’re a dedicated fan of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® series, this June weekend in Budapest delivers something genuinely rare: three world championship titles, history-making moments, Hungarian heroes to cheer for, and non-stop action in one of the city’s most iconic outdoor venues. Clear your calendar for June 5–6 — axes are sharpened, saws are ready, and Budapest is about to make lumbersport history.