Join the World’s Biggest Jigsaw Puzzle Competition!

Jigsaw puzzles are relaxing, right? Not for everyone... For high-level competitors, these little pieces leave the comfort of their living rooms behind and reach the heights of international competition! Since the tournament's inception in 2019, this global championship has seen fans from all corners of the globe battle it out. Here, hands fly across the tables with pinpoint precision and eyes meet, half-competitive, half-supportive, in a frenzied ballet. Welcome to the fascinating world of the WJPC, the world's largest jigsaw puzzle competition!

The WJPC, The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship

Imagine a huge room with 200 tables covered with hundreds of colorful puzzle pieces. Add to that players with ironclad focus, lightning-fast reflexes, and an unconditional love for putting puzzles together. And to top it all off, a panel of judges scrutinizing every move and spectators holding their breath—because here, every second counts!

The Olympics of puzzles? Almost! The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship, or WJPC for short. The must-see puzzle competition, whether you’re a pro or not! Fun fact: more than 70% of the competitors are women. A veritable tidal wave of female talent!

Since 2019, the World Puzzle Federation has been organizing the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship in Spain. After a forced break in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the sixth edition of the WJPC will take place at the Feria de Valladolid from September 16 to 20, 2026. Who can participate in this tournament? Read on to find out everything you need to know!

The Biggest Puzzle Competition in 2026

Registration is now open for the biggest jigsaw puzzle competition of 2026. Are you 14 or older? Then all you have to do is pay the registration fee of €50 for individuals, €60 for pairs, and €125 for teams of 3 to 4 people. For younger participants, form a team with at least one adult and you're good to go.

Registration is open until 5 days before the start of the tournament if the expected quota is not met. But enthusiasm for this competition continues to grow, and in response to the influx of participants, qualifying rounds and semifinals have been introduced to ramp up the suspense. The prize? A €2,000 prize for the finalists, puzzles galore and a trophy. 🏆

If you're not a dissectologist and simply want to observe the wide variety of strategies employed by the participants, you can attend the event free of charge. Prefer the comfort of your sofa? You can follow this great puzzle contest live on the World Jigsaw Federation channel.

👉 Related Reading: Average Time to Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle

Tournament Events

This jigsaw puzzle competition has only one goal: speedpuzzling. That's why getting into a state of flow  is more important than ever... Here, the stakes are simple but ruthless: complete  the jigsaw puzzle as quickly as possible within the allotted time. For those who don't manage to do so, the judges use the number of pieces placed, adding groups of more than three correctly connected pieces, to determine the final ranking. 

The events in this speedpuzzling tournament are divided into three categories, in all of which you can compete:

• Individuals: complete a 500-piece puzzle in 90 minutes, with an even tighter 75-minute final.
  
  
• Pairs: complete a 500-piece puzzle in 90 minutes, then a 1,000-piece puzzle in the final round within 2 hours.
  
  
• Teams: complete two 1,000 pieces in succession within 3 hours.

World Jigsaw Puzzle Champions

The WJPC doesn't just crown the best, it is also a partner of Guinness World Records, which verifies and validates world records. And in this jigsaw puzzle championship, speed is king: the number of pieces matters less than how quickly they are put together.

Among the undisputed masters, Spain’s Alejandro Clemente León long dominated the competition. But Poland stood out in 2025: the world champion is now Weronika Huptas, who also won a gold medal in the pairs category. As for the winning team, it included members of several nationalities, including the new 500-piece record holder, Wiktor Kacprzak (22 minutes and 2 seconds). Collaborative puzzle-solving at its best!

And when it comes to reaching the top, everyone has their own technique! Kristin Thuv from Norway is very popular with the audience for her unique strategies: she spends time studying the reference image before getting started and solves it… with just one hand! If you want to see these thrilling moments, be sure to watch the 2025 competition final.

👉 Related Reading: The Greatest Jigsaw Puzzle Records

A Community of Puzzle Enthusiasts

Beyond records and competitions, jigsaw puzzling is above all an activity that brings together. The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship is an annual event where people come not only to compete, but also to celebrate a shared passion. And if that makes you feel any better, less experienced competitors don't always finish in time!

The World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship is a great opportunity to have fun and share tips. It's a friendly competition and a special time for exchange experiences, discover techniques and connect with fans of all ages and backgrounds.

 So, whether you’re a casual player looking to pass the time on rainy days or an aspiring world champion, this 2026 competition is wide open to you. Who knows? Maybe one day, your name will be entered into the record books! On your marks, get set… puzzle away!

👉 Related reading: January 29: International Puzzle Day