European Qualifying Begins for the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup in Portugal
January 29, 2026 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
European qualifying for the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup starts this week at Penina in Portugal, launching a 10-event race
The road to the 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup officially begins this week in Portugal, as Europe’s top junior girls start competing for places on one of amateur golf’s most meaningful international teams.
European qualifying opens with the Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship at Penina Golf Resort, the first of 10 official events that will determine the continent’s 12-player roster for September 2026.
A historic stage in the Netherlands
The 2026 PING Junior Solheim Cup will be contested September 7–8, 2026, at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. For the first time in event history, the Junior Solheim Cup will be played on the same course that hosts the Solheim Cup later that week.
Twelve of Europe’s best young female players, ages 12 to 18, will take on Team USA in the match-play showcase that has become a key proving ground for future stars.
Anne van Dam to captain Team Europe
Five-time Ladies European Tour winner Anne van Dam will captain the European side, with England’s Bronte Law named vice-captain. The two have shared this pathway before, competing together at the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2013 and later representing Europe at the Solheim Cup in 2019.
Van Dam said she’s looking forward to tracking the talent through the qualification stretch and encouraged players to embrace the journey as the team begins to take shape for 2026.
How Europe will select its 12 players
There are 10 official European qualification events, beginning January 28 in Portugal and concluding August 15 at the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in Scotland.
- The top six players on the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings after the 10 events will earn automatic selection.
- Van Dam will then make six captain’s picks to complete the 12-player team.
Landgraf returns to Portugal to defend
France’s Louise Landgraf returns to Penina as the defending champion after winning the Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship last year by two shots. Landgraf also represented Europe at the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup, where Team USA claimed the victory in Washington, D.C.
Landgraf will be one to watch as she begins her 2026 qualification campaign, with fellow French player Alice Kong also in the field in Portugal.
What’s next on the schedule
After Portugal, the European qualification calendar continues with several of the most prestigious events on the junior and amateur schedule, including:
- Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship (March 3–8) at La Reserva Club Sotogrande, Spain
- French International Lady Juniors (April 1–6) at Saint Cloud Golf Club, France
Additional details on all 10 qualification events are available through the Ladies European Tour and Solheim Cup channels.
Solheim Cup week tickets
Tickets for Solheim Cup week in 2026 are on sale now, with options ranging from grounds passes to hospitality offerings. For Junior Solheim Cup updates, follow along on Instagram at @pingjrsolheimcupeurope.
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