The 2026 edition of the EU Sport Forum, the flagship annual event of the European Commission, took place on April 15-16 in Paphos, Cyprus. The event gathered stakeholders from leading sport organisations, federations and policy-makers, focusing on the resilience of the European Sport Model, gender equality, and the mental well-being of athletes.

Organised in cooperation with the Cyprus Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, the Forum served as a central platform for high-level dialogue on the most pressing issues facing the European sports community. Under the theme of "Values, Inclusion, and Wellbeing", the two-day event emphasised the importance of sport as a tool for social cohesion and lifelong health.

The European University Sports Association (EUSA) was actively involved throughout the Forum, represented by Andrej Pisl, EUSA Director of Projects and Policy. EUSA utilised the event to network with international partners and European institutions, specifically promoting two EUSA-coordinated projects, co-funded by the European Union:
- DiscoverU (Discovering University Sport and Supporting Dual Career): An initiative aimed at encouraging physical activity and healthy lifestyles among students through innovative community engagement.
- ESSEPA (Enhancing Sport Stewardship and European Public Administration): A project focused on improving governance, integrity, and administrative standards within the university sport sector.

On the first day, the plenary sessions included the Welcome addresses, Policy update from the European Commission and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, Presentation of the future priorities of the Irish Presidency of the Council. The programme also offered a knowledge sharing session: Sport and Society, with good practices from Cyprus, and Peer Learning Activities (PLA) in Bulgaria and Slovenia. Presentation of the outcomes of the recent projects and activities from the World Anti-Doping Agency was made as well.

Day 1 parallel sessions allowed participants to choose between the topics of Removing barriers to women's sporting success and Rewarding talent in sport: boosting solidarity and competitive balance in the first set; with the following topics - Not just medals, rethinking sport for lifelong wellbeing and The future of the European Week of Sport in the second set; and Uniting the Mediterranean through sport and Mental health in sport: pressure and resilience in the third set.

The second day started with a keynote speech by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. The Commissioner shared key priorities and activities of the European Commission and his personal engagement in the wider field of sport, specifically emphasising that physical literacy must be a foundation for long-term health.

The keynote speech was followed by a round table session Move more, live better: why movement matters at every age with high-level speakers and contributors. The importance of younger generations being equipped with the basic skills to conduct more active lives, as well as the importance of lifelong sport and active ageing as a tool to address the inactivity crisis was emphasised.

A session with Interviews with athletes showcased the Inspiring firsthand accounts from athletes and their pathway into governance roles.

The final session was on Integrity and investment: a sustainable future for European basketball, at which the joint FIBA - NBA plan for a new NBA Europe was discussed.

The EU Sport Forum in Paphos was closed by Georg Häusler, European Commission's Director of Culture, Creativity and Sport.

Besides taking part in the sessions, participants were also able to network and enjoy morning #BeActive activities and a dedicated afternoon sports programme.

For more information on the EU Sport Forum and the initiatives discussed, please visit sport.ec.europa.eu.