Khon Kaen Will Host the Fifty Second World Petanque Championship With Players From Forty Eight Countries
At least 500 athletes, officials and supporters are expected in north-eastern Thailand in November for the men's triples and the precision shooting championship.
Khon Kaen University confirmed on 15 September 2026 that it is ready to host the 52nd World Petanque Championship for men's triples, which will be played at the university in north-eastern Thailand from 20 to 25 November 2026, with athletes and officials from 48 countries expected.
The 17th world championship for precision shooting will be held at the same time, MGR Online reported. The event is being organised with the Central Committee of Thai Petanque Sports and the International Federation of Petanque and Provencal Games (FIPJP), and the newspaper said at least 500 people from the 48 nations were expected, with local spending estimated in the tens of millions of baht.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the Baya Sita Hotel on campus. Assoc Prof Pensri Jaroenwanit, the university's vice president for student affairs and innovation commercialisation, said Khon Kaen was delighted and honoured to be trusted with the event, and that venues, accommodation, medical services, transport and security had been prepared. The dates coincide with the university's Srithan International Festival.
General Mangkorn Kosinthornsenee, chairman of the Central Committee of Thai Petanque Sports, attended alongside Supanart Lamlert, an executive committee member of FIPJP and the World Petanque-Boules Federation, who said the federations would send technical staff to ensure international standards were met.
MGR Online said Thai fans would be cheering for the home side to defend a world title in the north-east, a region that has produced a multiple world champion from Khon Kaen's Nam Phong district.