EuroGames 2028 / 2029 / 2030 coupled to Antwerp Pride

The 18th edition (since 2008) of Antwerp Pride takes place from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 August 2025 in Antwerp. This year’s theme is “Do not just march! Listen. Understand. Commit”. Prides are a mix of celebration – parties – and activism and advocacy. For the 2025 edition, the organising committee focuses on belonging. Belonging to the society at large – the ‘outside world’ – but also belonging within the rainbow realm.

Alderwoman for Culture, Work, Equal Opportunities and Development Cooperation Lien Van de Kelder (Vooruit) is keen on getting the EuroGames to return to Antwerp. The metropolis hosted this LGBTQIA+ sports tournament a first time in 2007.

The idea was floated during Antwerp Pride 2024 and intentions are confirmed in the City Government Agreement ‘All Antwerpians‘.

“Antwerp Pride puts Antwerp on the map internationally as a tolerant city. We will continue to fully support this event. We are applying to be the host city of Euro games. This international sporting event of the LGBTQIA+ community brings a sporty and positive atmosphere to our city.”

But while the candidacy to host the EuroGames is (originally) meant for 2028, this could also be postponed to the summer of 2029 or the summer of 2030. As long as it happens in the current government term, which runs from 2025 to 2030.

One thing is all but confirmed: calendar-wise, the tournament would be coupled to Antwerp Pride and Antwerp Queer Arts Festival. This means the second week of August.

Antwerp Pride Magazine

The EuroGames are mentioned in the Antwerp Pride Magazine, where Van de Kelder briefly mentions the City of Antwerp will apply to hist the Games.

Selecting a host city

This year, the EuroGames are held in Lyon in France. 2026 is being skipped because Valencia in Spain hosts the Gay Games. Cardiff in Wales will host the EuroGames 2027.

The European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF) selected Cardiff in 2024. So count on three years in between selection and organisation.

Application process

As of July 2025, the bidding process for hosting EuroGames 2028 is currently underway. EuroGames is one of Europe’s most significant sporting celebrations, and hosting rights are awarded through a structured bidding procedure open exclusively to EGLSF member clubs, either individually or as a joint team.

The bid cycle for 2028 re-opened on 3 March 2025. Bid books have been available since that date. Prospective bidders must sign the bidding agreement and pay a small fee by 30 June 2025. This deadline has now passed. The final date for submitting bids is 30 September 2025.

From 1 to 3 October 2025, all candidate cities will present their bids during an online meeting with EGLSF members. Bids will be distributed for electronic voting on 3 October, and the vote will close on 24 October. The results will be published on 25 October 2025. The selected host city will have three years to realise its plans in preparation for the 2028 event.

The regular bidding cycle for EuroGames 2029 is expected to open in April 2025 and is also open to EGLSF member clubs. As of now, expressions of interest are welcome. Interested clubs may request the bidding manual and seek advice from the EGLSF board. Bidders must sign the bidding agreement and pay the fee by 1 October 2025. Bid books are to be completed and submitted no later than 31 December 2025. If the bid is accepted, the club will be invited to present its proposal at the EGLSF Annual General Assembly on 28 February 2026. Delegates will then vote to determine the 2029 host city.

All bidding clubs receive a handbook detailing procedures and deadlines. Support is available throughout the process, including Q&A opportunities with the EGLSF board. A formal presentation at the AGA is required for final consideration.

Clubs interested in bidding or in need of further information are encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible.

What are the EuroGames?

The EuroGames, officially known as the European Gay and Lesbian Multi-Sports Championships, were conceived following the second Gay Games in San Francisco in 1986. The event began as a small-scale initiative designed to support gay and lesbian athletes in their coming out, increase public visibility of LGBTQ+ sport, and foster networks between sports clubs across Europe. The first edition took place in The Hague in 1992.

The EuroGames are governed by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF). Each year, the EGLSF Annual General Assembly decides which club or city will host the Games. To ensure accessibility for a wide range of host cities, EuroGames are held as either ‘big’ or ‘small’ events, with the number of sports on offer varying accordingly.

The inaugural EuroGames in 1992 welcomed around 300 athletes from five countries competing in four sports. The second edition returned to The Hague in 1993, expanding to include swimming and athletics, and drawing over 540 participants. In 1995, Frankfurt hosted the third edition with over 2,000 athletes, significantly surpassing expectations. The event introduced the enduring EuroGames logo, the ‘Star & Flame‘.

Berlin hosted the fourth EuroGames in 1996, attracting 3,400 participants in 17 sports. It was the first time athletes from Eastern Europe, including Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, took part. The Berlin edition also introduced the official EuroGames hymn, ‘We Are Leaving‘ by Polaris.

In 1997, the EuroGames were awarded to Paris after a formal bidding process involving three cities. Nearly 2,000 athletes from 17 countries took part in 13 sports. Outreach efforts were particularly successful in involving participants from France, Italy, and Spain.

Zurich hosted EuroGames VI in 2000, attracting over 4,300 athletes and offering 19 sports. Inspired by the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam, organisers created a ‘Rainbow Square‘ as a social hub. The following year, Hanover held the first ‘small’ EuroGames with seven sports and strong local government support.

Copenhagen hosted the eighth edition in 2003, marking the first time the Games were held in Northern Europe. With over 2,200 participants, the event featured handball for the first time, reflecting Scandinavian sporting interests.

EuroGames IX took place in Munich in 2004, with more than 5,000 athletes from around the world. The majority of activities were centred at the Olympic Park, offering over 20 sports. Utrecht followed in 2005, hosting a larger-than-usual ‘small’ edition featuring nine sports, including field hockey, which welcomed an Australian team.

In 2007, Antwerp attracted 2,800 athletes from 40 countries. The city mobilised around 600 volunteers, and female athletes made up over 40% of participants. Barcelona hosted EuroGames XII in 2008, welcoming more than 5,000 athletes competing in 25 sports under the slogan ‘Come South, Play with Us!’.

Copenhagen again featured in 2009 as the site of the second World OutGames, offering sport, cultural programming, and a human rights conference. In 2011, Rotterdam hosted the thirteenth edition of the EuroGames under the banner ‘Show Your Colour‘. The following year, Budapest became the first Eastern European city to host the event.

In 2015, Stockholm organised EuroGames XV with 28 sports, political workshops, art exhibitions, and celebratory events. The following year, Helsinki hosted a well-received edition with 1,400 athletes under sunny skies. Rome held the 2019 edition under the slogan ‘Rights in Play‘, featuring 12 sports.

The 2020 edition in Düsseldorf was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, EuroGames were held jointly with WorldPride across Copenhagen and Malmö, with 2,000 athletes in 22 sports and thousands joining related parades and marches, despite pandemic-related challenges.

In 2022, the city of Nijmegen hosted around 2,000 participants in 17 sports under the theme ‘Love to Move‘. The 2023 edition in Bern featured 2,233 athletes and a EuroGames Village decorated with hundreds of rainbow flags. In 2024, Vienna welcomed approximately 4,000 participants across 31 sports. The event emphasised diversity and inclusion, with strong participation from Central and Eastern Europe and vibrant FLINTA tournaments.

As of 2025, Cardiff and Lyon have been selected as future host cities for the 2027 and 2025 editions respectively. The EuroGames continue to evolve as a powerful platform for sport, inclusion, and visibility across Europe’s LGBTQ+ communities.

So?

Has an Antwerp organising committee lodged an application? Not to our knowledge. So one can perhaps forget 2028 and even 2029.

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