EuroGames Cardiff 2027: Everything You Need to Know About the UK’s First EuroGames

EuroGames Cardiff 2027 will bring one of Europe’s biggest LGBTQ+ sporting events to the United Kingdom for the first time, with thousands of athletes, supporters and volunteers expected to arrive in the Welsh capital.

The Games will take place from 14 to 17 July 2027 and registration is already open. Cardiff is preparing a programme of 38 sports, alongside community events and a major international conference focusing on human rights, inclusion and sport.

What is EuroGames Cardiff 2027?

EuroGames is Europe’s largest multi sport event created around LGBTQ+ athletes and allies. The event is licensed by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation, known as EGLSF, with a different European city taking on hosting duties for each edition.

The first EuroGames took place in The Hague in 1992. Cardiff 2027 will be the 23rd edition and the first ever staged in the UK.

Pride Sports Cymru secured the Games for Cardiff following an exceptionally close vote at the EGLSF Annual General Assembly in March 2024. Cardiff defeated a rival bid from Munich by 60 votes to 59.

Who can take part in EuroGames Cardiff 2027?

EuroGames has a strong LGBTQ+ identity but participation is not restricted to LGBTQ+ athletes. The Games are open to people who embrace their values of inclusion and diversity, including allies.

Competitors also do not need to be elite athletes. EuroGames traditionally offers different age, ability and skill categories across its programme, allowing people with a wide range of sporting experience to participate.

Volunteering provides another way to become part of the event for people who do not want to compete. With thousands of visitors expected in Cardiff, volunteers will play an important part in delivering the Games.

38 sports are coming to Cardiff

Cardiff 2027 currently has 38 sports on its programme, with most becoming available during the initial registration phase.

The programme ranges from football, rugby, swimming, athletics and volleyball to darts, cycling, tennis, artistic swimming, rowing, sailing, cricket, water polo and wheelchair basketball. There are also outdoor events including hiking and trail running, taking some of the EuroGames programme beyond central Cardiff and into the Welsh landscape.

SoapLandTV will be taking a closer look at all 38 sports and how to enter them in a separate guide.

Support is available for athletes

Organisers have also created an Outreach Fund for people who could otherwise face financial or structural barriers to taking part.

The programme can provide help with costs including registration, accommodation and visa fees, with applications assessed according to individual circumstances. It is intended to make participation possible for athletes who may not otherwise be able to travel to Cardiff for the Games.

Accommodation is already being offered specifically for EuroGames competitors, including university rooms at Cardiff University. More registration, accommodation and travel information is available through the official Cardiff 2027 website.

Beyond Imagination comes before the Games

Sport will not be the only focus when the EuroGames community arrives in Wales. Cardiff will also host Beyond Imagination: Transforming Sport for All on 12 and 13 July 2027, immediately before the Games begin.

The international conference at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is set to bring together athletes, academics, activists, administrators, artists and allies. Its programme will examine how sport can become more inclusive, with safety, parity, integrity and joy forming its four central themes.

Why Cardiff 2027 is significant

Cardiff becoming the first UK host gives EuroGames a new place in British LGBTQ+ sporting history. More than three decades after the event began, athletes and clubs from across Europe will finally be able to attend a EuroGames hosted in the United Kingdom.

There is still almost a year of announcements, registrations and preparation ahead before the opening ceremony. For SoapLandTV, this is also the beginning of our coverage, with much more on the sports, athletes, ambassadors and people behind EuroGames Cardiff 2027 to come.

Visit the official EuroGames Cardiff 2027 website for registration, sports, accommodation and event information, and follow EuroGames Cardiff 2027 on Instagram for the latest updates.