HaBaWaBa
LoadingThe biggest youth water polo event in the world: for U9, U11 and U13, held every year in Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD) and drawing teams from five continents.
From 13 to 20 June the week for U9 and U11, from 20 to 27 June the week for U13.
U9 and U11 tournaments include girls’, boys’ and mixed teams. The U13 event is split into a girls-only tournament and one for boys-only or mixed teams.
Open the page of the event for your team (U9-U11 or U13) and follow the Registration Guide: it contains the information, duties, costs and deadlines. A club can enter more than one team in a single tournament.
Teams, made up of players, coaches and officials, all stay inside Bella Italia & EFA Village. Parents, family and supporters travelling with the team can enter the village by paying admission.
It is a code of ethics: the values of sport to respect in order to be part of the HaBaWaBa community.
To spread the values of sport among children and create a deep bond with water polo through an unforgettable experience.
Tournaments for girls’, boys’ or mixed U9 teams (born in 2018 and younger) and U11 teams (born in 2016 and younger)
Dates13–20 June, 2027
LocationBella Italia & EFA Village, Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy)
Entries open until 31 January 2027.
Discover
A tournament for girls’ teams and a tournament for boys’ or mixed U13 teams (born in 2014 and younger)
Dates20–27 June, 2027
LocationBella Italia & EFA Village, Lignano Sabbiadoro (Italy)
Entries open until 31 January 2027.
DiscoverWhat it is, the values, the events, for families, the HaBaWaBa School
The largest international water polo festival for children, created by Waterpolo Development in 2008
Discover the world at the Festival and follow the Champion Passport, the ethical code of the HaBaWaBa athlete
The Festivals in Lignano Sabbiadoro, and more: HaBaWaBa activities around the world
HaBaWaBa beyond sport: aquapark and beach for parents and children
The Waterpolo Development project to support coaches and spread water polo around the world
The ethical code of the HaBaWaBa athlete
A small tool for living HaBaWaBa’s values, in the water and out.
Stories from HaBaWaBa.
All newsThe editions, told by the photos, one folder per year.
All albums
Videos from the festival.
An international water polo festival for children, organised by Waterpolo Development since 2008.
The biggest water polo event in the world.
The festival, year by year.
The HaBaWaBa International Festival is born: the 1st edition, open to U9 and U11 teams, is held in Castel Volturno (CE): 32 teams entered.
The Festival moves to Lignano Sabbiadoro (UD): 46 teams take part.
HaBaWaBa fever breaks out: the Festival hosts 80 teams and becomes the biggest youth event in the world.
The Festival keeps growing: it passes 100 teams (108).
After the Lignano Festival, HaBaWaBa North America is held in Montreal (Canada), the first event of the HaBaWaBa International Circuit, which later reaches Greece, Spain, Brazil, Singapore, Belarus, Malaysia, China and Egypt.
Alongside the U9 and U11 tournaments, Festival PLUS is born for U13 athletes: 136 teams entered in total.
Inside Festival PLUS a girls-only tournament is created, to promote women’s water polo.
The record edition: 197 teams in total, 2,936 young players in the pool.
The Covid-19 pandemic forces Waterpolo Development to cancel the 2020 Festival.
The Festival returns with a special September edition: it starts again with 59 teams.
The Festival is confirmed as a world event: teams from 19 countries come to Lignano, and all five continents are represented.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025