Istanbul to Host 2027 European Games

Istanbul and the European Olympic Committee signed the host city contract for the Turkish capital to host the 2027 European Games, giving the city a chance to show it can stage an international multi-sports event as it eyes the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

The European Olympic Committees picked Instanbul as host in March 2024. The signing of the agreement at the 54th EOC General Assembly marks official confirmation that the multi-sport event will be held in Türkiye’s largest city in two years’ time.

“The signing of the Host City Contract for the Istanbul 2027 European Games marks a significant milestone for the EOC, and we are excited to take this important step forward,” EOC President Spyros Capralos said. “As we prepare for the fourth edition of the European Games, we are committed to delivering an event that not only highlights the very best of European sport but also celebrates the rich culture and hospitality of Istanbul and Türkiye.”

Turkey will co-host soccer’s 2032 European Championship with Italy. Istanbul city officials have said it wants to bid for the 2036 Olympics, having finished second to Tokyo in the then-bid contest to host the 2020 Games.

“This is a proud moment for our city and for Türkiye as we take on the responsibility of hosting the European Games,” Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said.

The European Games were first held in 2015 and serves as a continental championship and Olympic qualifier for a number of sports. The previous three European Games have been 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan; 2109 in Minsk, Belarus, and 2023 in Kraków-Małopolska, Poland, where 50 nations whose National Olympic Committee is recognized by the European Olympic Committee compete with nearly 7,000 athletes competing in 29 sports, including athletics, boxing and table tennis.