The European Olympic Committees (EOC) has confirmed the sports programme for the 4th European Games, which will take place in Istanbul in 2027.
The programme was approved on 13 March at an EOC Executive Committee meeting and has been put together in close collaboration with the Istanbul 2027 Organising Committee and the relevant international and European sports federations.
A total of 26 sports and disciplines will feature at the Games, 22 of which are Olympic sports that also appear on the programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The European Games will offer athletes a significant number of Olympic qualification opportunities, both through direct quota places and Olympic ranking systems.
Three sports will make their European Games debut in Istanbul, beach sprint rowing, weightlifting, and squash. Squash is particularly noteworthy, as it will also be making its Olympic debut at LA28. Meanwhile, gymnastics, volleyball, and wrestling all return to the programme after missing out at the previous Games in Kraków-Małopolska in 2023.
EOC Coordination Commission Chair Mihai Covaliu described Istanbul 2027 as a key milestone on the road to Los Angeles, adding that the programme would give Europe’s athletes a high-level platform to compete and qualify for the Olympics.
Istanbul 2027 CEO Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır said the Games would showcase the strength and diversity of European sport, and expressed excitement about welcoming athletes and fans from across the continent to the city.
Further details on competition venues are expected to be announced in the coming months.
The full list of sports is as follows: 3×3 Basketball, Aquatics, Archery, Athletics (European Team Championships), Badminton, Boxing, Canoe Sprint, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo, Karate, Kickboxing, Modern Pentathlon, Muay Thai, Padel, Rowing (Beach Sprint), Rugby 7s, Shooting, Sport Climbing, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
