With the press conference on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, hosted in Salerno, Italy, at the University of Salerno, the eighth edition of the European Universities Games (EUG 2026), scheduled from July 18 to August 1, 2026, has been officially presented.
The campaign launch follows the one-year-to-milestone recently reached, and has been set on the conclusion day of the European Universities 3x3 Basketball Championship test event: Salerno is set to become the beating heart of European university sports.

The event will bring over 4,500 athletes and staff to the Campania region, representing 400 universities from 40 European and non-European countries. These numbers will transform Salerno into an international showcase and a crossroads of sports, friendship, and cooperation among people.

As an event that unites sport and values, the EUG 2026 will not just be a competition: integration, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue will be the true driving forces. The chosen slogan, “Passion never ends”, expresses the spirit of the Games.

The official logo, inspired by Piazza della Libertà (a new square in the city of Salerno that connects the historical centre and the Mediterranean Sea) and ideally connecting Piazza del Sapere in the Fisciano Campus, is a multicoloured flower symbolising diversity, growth, and openness to the world.
The designed palette once again represents the connection between the Mediterranean Sea to the Continent.

The expected numbers of the event also feature around 800 teams competing, 13+2 sports disciplines, around 15 venues across Salerno and the province, and will have as background set the following locations: Fisciano and Baronissi Campuses, Santa Teresa Beach, Arechi Stadium, PalaUnisa, Piazza della Libertà, and Piazza del Sapere - for side events.

Sports disciplines will include: Basketball and 3x3 Basketball, Football, Futsal, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball and Sitting Volleyball, Padel, Rugby 7s, Handball, Beach Handball, Badminton, Inclusive Dance, Tennis, and Table Tennis.

“The Games are not just a sports challenge,” said Vincenzo Loia, Rector of the University of Salerno, during the presentation, “but a systemic project uniting students and citizens, involving local communities, institutions, and CUS Salerno.
We are used to confronting challenges and taking on the responsibility that allows us to overcome the inevitable difficulties that come with events of this scale.
This isn’t just an academic mission; sports are part of our lives and a growth path for our young people. Everything we’ve done has allowed us to end this exciting and demanding journey with a smile. It’s an excellent springboard for what’s to come.”

“We are certainly proud to host this great new sporting event,” added Fulvio Bonavitacola, Vice President of the Campania Region. “Its international scope and the fact that EUSA has chosen Salerno make it significant. The 2019 Universiade projected Naples and Campania onto the world stage - we made a lasting impact.
EUG 2026 in Salerno and the 2027 America’s Cup will once again place our region at the centre of international attention.”

“EUG 2026 is not only a major sports event but also a cultural and social one,” echoed Adam Roczek, President of the European University Sports Association (EUSA). “It will be the largest multi-sport European event of 2026. The Games will have significant tourism and image benefits for the city and the entire region.
I want to emphasise that next year, students will arrive from Europe and beyond. But more importantly, sport is much more than competition. From volunteers to cleaning staff, we all help build a better world. Because sport, first and foremost, is about belonging.”

Finally, Lorenzo Lentini, President of CUS Salerno and FISU Executive Committee Member, highlighted how “University sports, with its values of fairness and respect, represent a universal language capable of uniting different cultures. The Games will offer young Europeans not only the thrill of competition but, above all, a chance for encounter, dialogue, and intercultural growth, strengthening the sense of community and friendship among nations.
The road to EUG 2026 has begun. We’re now more aware of what we’re good at, but also of the critical areas we need to improve with determination and clarity.
We have a solid foundation to keep building on. These events also represent an important legacy for the region, given all we can still accomplish.

For all information about the European Universities Games Salerno 2026, please visit the official channel of the event:
website - eug2026.eu
@eug2026 on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube