Extreme Sports
DØDS Diving World Championship 2026 preview: How to watch death diving's biggest event
Watch DØDS Diving live and for free on DAZN
The biggest prize in death diving will be decided in Norway this weekend as the world's leading DØDS athletes descend on Arendal.
The 2026 DØDS Diving World Championship takes place on Saturday, August 22, bringing the sport's leading men's and women's competitors together for a standalone battle for the world titles.
It brings a landmark international season towards its conclusion after World Tour stops in Tobago, France, the United States and Norway, with the DØDS Diving League reporting more than 200 million digital views across the 2026 campaign.
World Tour champion Reagan Popoff will attempt to complete the double in the men's competition, while Norway's Asbjørg Nesje – the queen of death diving – returns looking to defend her women's world title on home soil.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the DØDS Diving World Championship 2026.
What is the DØDS Diving World Championship?
The DØDS Diving World Championship is the sport's biggest standalone competition and is separate from the season-long DØDS World Tour.
Across the World Tour, athletes collect points at events throughout the season, with the overall standings determining the World Tour champion.
The World Championship works differently.
Rather than points accumulated across the season deciding the winner, Arendal is a standalone competition which crowns separate men's and women's DØDS World Champions.
That means there are two major honours available during the season.
Popoff has already secured one after winning the 2026 World Tour following stops in Charlotteville, Aquafolies, Senderland and Fredrikstad.
Now the American has the chance to add the World Championship and finish his season with both major titles.
The event takes place in the heart of Arendal harbour, where the diving tower will form the centrepiece of an arena expected to welcome thousands of spectators.
Who are the men's favourites for the DØDS Diving World Championship?
Popoff arrives in Arendal as one of the leading contenders following his World Tour triumph.
The American has established himself at the top of the international field during a season in which the DØDS Diving League has continued to expand beyond its Norwegian roots.
Winning in Arendal would complete the double, giving Popoff both the season-long World Tour crown and the standalone world title.
But he faces significant competition.
France's Côme Girardot is among the leading international challengers, while Norway boasts a formidable group of athletes hoping to claim the biggest prize in their sport on home soil.
Truls Torp, Tore Våge and Herman T. Solstad are among the leading Norwegian names confirmed for the championship.
Torp in particular is one of the most recognisable athletes in DØDS and will be hoping to ensure the men's world title remains in Norwegian hands.
For Popoff, the equation is simple: he has conquered the World Tour. Now he must beat some of death diving's biggest names in a one-off competition to become world champion.
Can the queen of death diving defend her world title?
Few athletes have become as synonymous with the rise of DØDS as Asbjørg Nesje.
The Norwegian has established herself as the queen of death diving, winning four of the last five women's world titles, including the 2025 championship.
She returns to Arendal with the opportunity to defend her crown in front of a home crowd and further strengthen an extraordinary World Championship record.
But another title is far from guaranteed.
Switzerland's Cerin Althaus is among the leading international athletes heading to Norway hoping to dethrone Nesje.
The separate women's competition gives the world's leading female DØDS athletes their own opportunity to fight for the sport's biggest prize.
For Nesje, however, this is familiar territory.
Another victory would give the Norwegian a fifth world title in six years and further cement her status as the dominant woman of her generation.
When is the DØDS Diving World Championship 2026?
The DØDS Diving World Championship 2026 takes place on Saturday, August 22 in Arendal, Norway.
The competition will be staged in Arendal harbour, with the diving tower at the centre of the waterfront arena.
The World Championship is scheduled to begin at 3pm BST.
Thousands of spectators are expected around the harbour as the men's and women's 2026 world champions are crowned.
How to watch the DØDS Diving World Championship on DAZN
The DØDS Diving World Championship 2026 will be shown live on DAZN on Saturday, August 22.
Coverage from Arendal begins at 3pm BST, with fans able to follow both the men's and women's competitions.
The World Championship is available on DAZN internationally, excluding Norway and North America.
To find the DØDS Diving World Championship on DAZN:
- Open the DAZN app on your smart TV, phone, tablet, games console or streaming device, or access DAZN through a web browser.
- Sign in or create a DAZN account.
- Navigate to Extreme Sports.
- Select the DØDS Diving World Championship.
- Choose the live coverage to start watching.
