The 2021 World Rowing Championships was planned to be held from 17 to 24 October 2021 in Shanghai, China.

[1][2] Due to COVID-19-related mitigation issues, the event was cancelled by the World Rowing Association at the request of the Shanghai Organising Committee (OC).

[3][4] Normally, in an Olympic year, the World Rowing Championships would include only the non-Olympic events, but despite the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021 this year's World Championships were planned to include the full range of events.

[5]