The 45th edition of Prague Baseball Week is set to return from July 5-8, continuing a long-standing tradition as one of Europe’s premier international baseball tournaments.
The event will once again feature a two-group format. Group A will determine the tournament champion, consisting of a round-robin schedule followed by a gold medal game. Group B will feature developing and lower-ranked European nations competing in their own round-robin. Slovakia is currently the only confirmed team in Group B, with additional participants expected to be announced.
Group A is shaping up to be one of the strongest fields in tournament history.
The Netherlands will make its first-ever appearance at Prague Baseball Week, adding one of the most successful programs in European baseball history to the field. The Dutch enter as the reigning 2025 European champions and have won the European Championship 25 times overall. Their participation comes shortly after hosting the Czech Republic and other nations at Haarlem Baseball Week from June 26 through July 4.
Chinese Taipei, ranked No. 2 in the world, will also be in the field. The reigning Premier12 champions bring one of the deepest and most consistent international programs outside of the Americas and Japan.
Germany returns as the defending Prague Baseball Week champion after capturing its first title in 2025 with a 2-1 win over Czechia in the final. The host nation, Czechia, will look for redemption in 2026 as they begin preparing for their 2028 Olympics quest and qualifying for the next World Baseball Classic.
Both Germany and Czechia will use the tournament as preparation for upcoming Premier12 qualifiers later in 2026. Czechia is scheduled to play its qualifier in China in November, while Germany will compete in Barcelona in October.
The 2027 Premier12 will carry added significance, as it will serve as a pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The top-finishing team among European nations and Australia, will secure qualification. Asia will also be granted one spot. Czechia and Germany will be aiming to join Chinese Taipei in the 2027 tournament field.
The United States, Dominican Republic and Venezuela have already secured their spots in the 2028 Olympics as host and through the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Prague Baseball Week was first held in 1980 and has evolved significantly over the decades. Originally staged every two years, similar to Haarlem Baseball Week, the tournament eventually transitioned into an annual event.
In recent years, interest in Czech baseball has grown rapidly, particularly following the national team’s participation in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. That momentum has elevated the quality and visibility of the tournament, with recent editions being the best in the tournament’s history.
With the addition of the Netherlands for the very first and a strong field overall in 2026, this year’s tournament just may be the best yet.
2026 Prague Baseball Week Schedule
July 5
Germany vs. Czechia
Chinese Taipei vs. Netherlands
July 6
Germany vs. Chinese Taipei
Netherlands vs. Czechia
July 7
Germany vs. Netherlands
Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia
July 8
Bronze medal game
Gold medal game
Photo: Czechia celebrating first ever medal at 2025 European Championship. Courtesy of Czech Baseball
