EUG
European Universities Games
Salerno 2026
Get ready to experience the most iconic sports event in the academic landscape: the European Universities Games (EUG)! This is the flagship event of EUSA (European University Sports Association), which, every two years, transforms a different European city into the capital of university sports.
Destination 2026? Salerno
After the success of the 2024 edition in Hungary, the baton officially passes to Italy. From July 18 to August 1, 2026, Salerno will become the epicentre of European sporting talent (if you do not know where Salerno is, no problem, here are all the interesting facts about the city). Thanks to the synergy between the University of Salerno and CUS Salerno, the city will welcome over 4,500 student-athletes from every corner of the continent.
It will not just be a competition, but a unique opportunity to celebrate the values of: INTEGRATION, FAIR PLAY and SHARING that define the EUSA spirit.
EUG & EUSA: The Numbers of a Global Success
Since the first edition in Cordoba in 2012, the Games have grown exponentially, becoming an international stage:
| Year | Host City | Participants | Universities Involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Cordoba (ESP) | 2,574 | 154 |
| 2014 | Rotterdam (NED) | 2,828 | 174 |
| 2016 | Zagreb/Rijeka (CRO) | 5,410 | 388 |
| 2018 | Coimbra (POR) | 4,000+ | 291 |
| 2022 | Lodz (POL) | 4,459 | 422 |
| 2024 | Debrecen/Miskolc (HUN) | 5,000+ | 400+ |
| 2026 | Salerno (ITA) | Target: 4,500+ | Coming Soon! |
Why is it important?
Besides the medals, the European Universities Games will leave a concrete legacy in Salerno, just like in the host cities of previous editions: new cutting-edge sports infrastructure and unprecedented international visibility for the community and the territory.