Blue purple gymnastics leotard with white trim for 2026 Baku Apparatus World Cup

Your Guide to the 2026 Baku Apparatus World Cup

, 8 min reading time

High-Flying Action: Your Guide to the 2026 FIG Apparatus World Cup in Baku

The international gymnastics spotlight returns to the "City of Winds" this spring. From March 5–8, 2026, the world’s elite artistic gymnasts will descend upon Baku, Azerbaijan, for the FIG Apparatus World Cup (AGF Trophy). As a crucial stop in the World Cup series, this event serves as a high-stakes arena for specialists looking to secure their dominance on individual apparatus.

Whether you're a die-hard gymnastics fan or a newcomer to the sport, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming competition at the iconic Milli Gimnastika Arenası.

FIG Baku World Cup 2026: Official Event Schedule

The competition is structured over four days, split between qualifying rounds and the high-energy apparatus finals.

Competition Dates & Times

Date Time (Local - GMT+4) Event Phase Apparatus Included
March 5 (Thu) 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Qualifications - Day 1

MAG: Floor, P-Bars, Rings


WAG: Vault, Uneven Bars
March 6 (Fri) 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Qualifications - Day 2

MAG: Vault, Pommel Horse, High Bar


WAG: Beam, Floor
March 7 (Sat) 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Apparatus Finals - Day 1

MAG: Floor, P-Bars, Rings


WAG: Vault, Uneven Bars
March 8 (Sun) 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Apparatus Finals - Day 2

MAG: Vault, Pommel Horse, High Bar


WAG: Beam, Floor

Times are provisional and based on local Baku time. Check official FIG directives for late-breaking changes.

Where to Watch: Live Stream and Broadcast Info

For those unable to make the trip to Azerbaijan, you can catch the gravity-defying action through several official digital platforms.

  • FIG Official YouTube: Highlights and select qualification clips are typically uploaded to the FIG Channel.

  • Eurovision Sport: The apparatus finals (March 7–8) are scheduled to be streamed live on the Eurovision Sport platform.

  • FIG TV: In certain regions, pay-per-view or subscription-based live coverage of the full event is available via FIGTV.sport.

  • Local Coverage: Idman TV (Azerbaijan) frequently provides live broadcast coverage for local viewers.

Venue Spotlight: Milli Gimnastika Arenası (National Gymnastics Arena)

Located at 178 Heydar Aliyev Avenue, the National Gymnastics Arena is one of the most specialized gymnastics venues in the world. Opened in 2014, it features:

  • Capacity: Up to 9,600 spectators.

  • Design: A unique facade that can display light shows during evening sessions.

  • Accessibility: Easily reachable via the "Koroghlu" underground station.

Ticket Information

If you are in Baku, tickets are available through iTicket.az. Generally, qualification day tickets start at 7 AZN, while Finals tickets are approximately 12 AZN.

Key Athletes to Watch in the 2026 Series

As this is an "Apparatus World Cup," the focus is on specialists rather than all-arounders. Keep an eye out for:

  1. MAG Specialists: Look for powerhouse performances on the Rings and Parallel Bars, where technical precision is paramount.

  2. The AGF Trophy: This special award is presented to the gymnasts who receive the highest execution scores across the entire tournament, rewarding "perfection" over raw difficulty.

Following the high-stakes performances in Baku, the 2026 gymnastics season is heating up. To give you a clearer picture of what’s at stake, here is a breakdown of the current World Cup series landscape and the prestigious technical award unique to the Azerbaijan leg.

2026 FIG Apparatus World Cup Series Standings

The 2026 circuit is a "Specialist Series." Unlike the All-Around competitions, these events crown a champion for each individual piece of equipment. Points are awarded based on rank at each stop: 30 points for 1st place, 25 for 2nd, and 20 for 3rd, scaling down to 1 point for 12th place.

Current Frontrunners (Early Season Outlook)

As we head into the Baku event, here is the pulse of the leaderboards:

Apparatus Men’s (MAG) Leading Nations Women’s (WAG) Leading Nations
Floor Exercise Japan, Great Britain Brazil, Italy
Vault Armenia, Philippines USA, Korea
Pommel Horse / Bars Kazakhstan, Ireland China, Algeria
Rings / Beam Greece, China China, Romania

Note: The final series rankings are often used by national federations to determine funding and selection for the upcoming World Championships later this year.

The AGF Trophy: The Search for "Perfection"

While most gymnastics fans focus on the gold medal, the AGF Trophy is one of the most respected honors in the Baku circuit.

How it Works

Unlike the standard ranking (which combines Difficulty + Execution), the AGF Trophy is awarded based purely on the Execution (E-score).

  1. The Math: Judges start with a base of 10.0. Deductions are made for bent knees, hops on landings, or flexed toes.

  2. The Winner: The male and female gymnasts who achieve the highest single E-score during the entire competition (Qualifications or Finals) take home the trophy.

  3. The Prestige: It signifies that the athlete isn't just "doing hard tricks," but is performing them with world-class technical mastery.

Technical Spotlight: The Scoring System

For those watching the live stream, remember that the final score is the sum of two distinct panels:

  • The D-Score (Difficulty): Starts at 0.0 and builds up based on the "value" of the skills performed.

  • The E-Score (Execution): Starts at 10.0. This is where the AGF Trophy contenders are born.

  • The Formula:

    $$\text{Final Score} = \text{D-Score} + \text{E-Score} - \text{Penalties}$$

Your Guide to the Next Stops

If you want to follow the "Road to the Finals," mark these dates on your calendar following the Baku event:

  • March 12–15: FIG World Challenge Cup – Antalya, TUR

  • April 3–6: FIG Apparatus World Cup – Cairo, EGY

  • April 17–20: FIG World Challenge Cup – Osijek, CRO

Official Links and Resources

Stay updated with the latest scores and news directly from the governing bodies:

What’s Next for the Gymnastics Season?

The Baku World Cup is part of a busy spring circuit. Following this event, the tour moves to Antalya, Turkey (March 12–15) and Cairo, Egypt (April 3–6).

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