Vladivostok: India has emerged as one of the biggest international participant bases at the ninth edition of the KARDO International Award for Street Culture and Sports, with 946 registrations reported from the country, according to a press release distributed by the organizers.
The announcement comes as the KARDO IX Grand Final brings together athletes, dancers, artists, musicians and street-culture practitioners from around the world in Vladivostok from September 16 to 20.
KARDO, an international competition and award focused on street culture and sport, has expanded significantly in its ninth season. According to the organizers, almost 80,000 people from 195 countries registered and participated in the IX season, while national stages were conducted in 19 countries.
India was among the countries involved in the international stages of the competition. KARDO’s official information confirms that a national stage was held in India during the ninth season, alongside national stages in countries including Armenia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Nepal, Tajikistan, Kenya and Indonesia.
India emerges as a major international presence
The reported figure of 946 registrations from India places the country among the most prominent international participant bases at this year’s competition.
The figure was included in an international media release received by Sports19. The release described India as the country with the highest number of registrations among participating nations.
While the exact 946 figure has not been independently published on KARDO’s official website, the wider scale of India’s involvement is supported by the competition’s official records, which confirm India’s national stage and participation in the ninth season.
For India’s growing street-sports and street-culture community, the international platform provides an opportunity to compete and connect with participants from different countries and disciplines.
A global festival of street culture and sport
The KARDO IX Grand Final was held in Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East, with the event bringing together international participants and experts.
The official KARDO website describes the project as an international award dedicated to street culture and sport. The 2026 edition features five competition formats and 13 disciplines, including BMX, kickscootering, skateboarding, rollerblading, freerunning, parkour, tricking, workout, breaking, graffiti, DJing, hip-hop and rap.
The competition has also expanded well beyond a conventional sporting event, combining competitions with creative, educational and cultural programmes.
Earlier in the season, KARDO reported 51,050 online applications from 173 countries, highlighting the international reach of the ninth edition even before the Grand Final.
Vladivostok becomes the meeting point
The Grand Final represents the culmination of the ninth season, bringing together participants who progressed through online, regional and national stages, as well as those taking part through open qualification.
KARDO’s official announcement said 162 participants had advanced through the online selection process, representing 29 countries, while additional competitors could qualify through the open Grand Final qualification in Vladivostok.
The final programme includes competitions, educational activities, workshops, street wear presentations, graffiti events and the awards ceremony.
The event is being hosted at the Far Eastern Federal University campus on Russky Island, turning the venue into a large-scale meeting point for street culture and sport.
India’s growing presence
India’s reported participation at KARDO IX reflects the country’s expanding presence across international youth, action-sports and street-culture platforms.
From skateboarding and BMX to breaking, hip-hop and other creative disciplines, India’s young sporting and cultural communities continue to find new international platforms through which to showcase their talent.
For KARDO, India’s participation is also part of a much broader international expansion. The organisation says its ninth season has attracted participants from 195 countries, making the 2026 edition its largest international community to date.
With the Grand Final having concluded in Vladivostok, the spotlight is firmly on the athletes and creators who have travelled from different parts of the world to compete, perform and represent their countries.
For India, the reported 946 registrations provide another indication of the growing interest in street sports and culture among young participants.
Sports19 received the information regarding India’s participation through an international media release distributed by the International Department of the Presidential Platform “Russia — Land of Opportunities”. The figure of 946 registrations is attributed to the organizers.
Source: Official KARDO website
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