Tunisia to Host 54th World French Scrabble Championship in 2026
From July 18 to 26, 2026, Tunisia will welcome the 54th edition of the World French Scrabble Championship, one of the largest international events dedicated to mind sports. For nine days, the country will become the world capital of words, bringing together over 500 players from 20 countries, accompanied by hundreds of visitors, enthusiasts, and officials.
The official announcement was made during a press conference held at the Regency Gammarth hotel, attended by representatives of the International Federation of French Scrabble, sports and cultural figures, institutional and economic partners, and the Tunisian organizing committee. This mobilization reflects the magnitude of the event and the ambitions of this Tunisian edition.
When Scrabble Goes Beyond the Game
For the organizers, Tunis 2026 will not be just a competition. It will be a celebration of the French language, intercultural dialogue, and collective intelligence.
During the launch ceremony, Patrice Jeanneret emphasized the symbolic significance of this choice. According to him, Tunisia stood out as an obvious choice due to its experience in organizing international events and its historical place in the Francophone space.
"Tunis 2026 will not be a simple sports competition, but a true celebration of Francophonie and intercultural dialogue," he declared, highlighting the human and cultural richness promised by this edition.
In the competition halls, players will manipulate letters. But behind the grids and strategies, a whole idea of living together will emerge: that of an open, diverse, and passionate Francophonie.
A Long History of Love between Tunisia and Scrabble
The relationship between Tunisia and Scrabble is not new.
Before this 2026 edition, the country had already marked the world history of the discipline. The first World French Scrabble Championships took place in Cannes in 1972. The Djerba edition in 1976 was the 5th edition and the first organized in Tunisia. A few years later, Hammamet took over, hosting another edition in 1982. These two founding events have permanently inscribed Tunisia in the memory of international Scrabble.
For Hafedh Atallah, hosting this competition again represents "a national pride and international recognition."
He recalls that, despite a limited number of licensed players, Tunisia has been able to form an elite capable of competing with the world's best players. A generation of champions has carried the Tunisian flag high over the years.
Among them, several names are remembered with respect in the international Scrabble circles: Zouhaier Aloulou, Abdelrazak Warda, Samir Nawal, and Chokri Ben Rouhama.
Zouhaier Aloulou: The Man Who Made Tunisian Scrabble Shine
In the Tunisian Scrabble universe, one name stands out: that of Zouhaier Aloulou.
Champion of Tunisia for many years, he embodies one of the major figures of this discipline in the country. His career tells the story of the evolution of competitive Scrabble in Tunisia.
He discovered the game in 1980 before officially entering competitions in 1985. Since then, tournaments, titles, and distinctions have followed one another. In 2023, he won the African Cup, confirming his status among the continent's best players.
But beyond the trophies, his testimony recalls a reality often overlooked: Scrabble is also a school of rigor, memory, strategy, and self-overcoming.
A Championship with Significant Economic Impacts
The event goes beyond the competition halls. For Tunisia, this championship represents a major economic opportunity.
Hichem ELLOUMI highlighted the direct impact expected on several sectors: tourism, transportation, hospitality, catering, and services.
With hundreds of foreign visitors expected, Gammarth and Tunis should experience significant economic dynamics during the competition. The Tunisian Union of Industry, Commerce, and Artisanry will accompany the event on logistical and organizational levels to reinforce Tunisia's image as a destination capable of hosting major international events.
Universities Join the Party
The championship will also have a strong educational and cultural dimension.
For Tahar Ben Lakhdar, the involvement of students in this event represents a unique experience. Observing the world's best players, understanding their thought processes, and participating in an international competition is, according to him, a true intellectual immersion.
More than just a game, Scrabble becomes a learning tool that fosters linguistic skills, analysis, concentration, and intercultural openness.
World Stars Expected in Tunis
This 2026 edition promises an exceptional lineup.
The program will include Duplicate, classic, Blitz, pairs, and the highly anticipated World Challenge, considered one of the most spectacular moments of the tournament.
Among the expected big names: Nigel Richards, Christian Pierre, Franck Maniquant, and Antonin Michel.
These names resonate like absolute references in the French Scrabble Francophone universe.
Africa: A New Driver of French Scrabble
For several years, Africa has emerged as one of the major growth territories of French Scrabble. In West Africa and North Africa, the discipline has experienced remarkable growth.
Scrabble has gone far beyond the realm of leisure: it has become a pedagogical, cultural, and sometimes social tool, promoting language learning, logic, and self-confidence among young generations.
In this dynamic, Tunisia appears today as a strategic bridge between Europe, Africa, and the Arab world.
Tunisia Wants to Turn Words into International Radiance
Through this world championship, Tunisia aims to tell another story about itself: that of a country capable of combining culture, intelligence, tourism, and international openness.
For a few days, letters, dictionaries, and strategies will replace stadiums and balls. But the stakes remain the same: to make the country shine on the international stage.
And in Gammarth, in July 2026, each word played may have a significance far greater than a simple victory.
