Lisbon will make history in 2027 by hosting the first ever edition of the European University Athletics Championships
It was during the meeting of the Executive Committee of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), which took place on June 2, 2025, that Portugal was officially awarded the organization of the first ever edition of the European University Athletics Championships.
The event will take place in Lisbon in 2027, under the auspices of EUSA, with local organization by the Portuguese University Sports Federation (FADU Portugal), which also has the support of various partners, such as the University of Lisbon and the Portuguese Athletics Federation.
The application submitted by FADU Portugal University Sports highlighted the Portuguese capital as a city with an "incredibly favorable and fertile environment for hosting international sporting events of all scales," emphasizing the vast experience of the city and the institutions involved in organizing high-level sporting competitions.
The University Stadium of Lisbon , the central venue for the event, was also highlighted as one of the main assets of the bid, due to its "impressive facilities" and "distinguished track record of success in organizing major national and international sporting events."
“This is a historic moment for European and national university sport,” stated Ricardo Nora, President of FADU Portugal.
"This is a sport with enormous weight and history on the national and international scene. Managing to bring the first edition of the European University Athletics Championships to Portugal and promote it reflects the confidence that EUSA places in our country's organizational capacity and the strength of the network of partners that has come together around this bid."
“We are deeply proud of this achievement. In 2027, we will write a new page in the history of European university sport, with Portugal at the center of the track,” concluded the official.
The choice of Lisbon was received with great enthusiasm by EUSA, with its President, Adam Roczek, highlighting the relevance of this moment for the European landscape:
"It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the first EUSA European University Athletics Championship, awarded to the University of Lisbon in cooperation with the Portuguese University Sports Federation. This historic event marks a new chapter for university sport in Europe. Athletics, one of the most celebrated university sports, symbolizes the strength, dedication, and unity that we celebrate in our student-athlete community. We hope that this first edition will be unforgettable and pave the way for many more."
The Rector of the University of Lisbon, Luís Ferreira, also reacted with great pleasure to the awarding of the event: “ It is an honor for the University of Lisbon to host the first EUSA European University Athletics Championship. It proves that sport is also part of the heart of the University — where cognitive and physical components come together with the constant desire for self-improvement.”