One year to go until the EUSA European Universities Games 2026

Salerno, Italy, prepares to become the capital of European university sport!
Exactly one year from today, the University of Salerno will welcome over 4,500 participants from around 40 European countries for the 8th edition of the European Universities Games (EUG).

The biggest university multisports event in Europe, governed by the European University Sports Association (EUSA), will be held from July 18 to August 1 and it represent much more than a sports competition: it will be an opportunity to position Salerno and its University as a central hub of cultural, educational, and athletic innovation in the heart of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

An international campus for the future of Europe

The Fisciano Campus of the University of Salerno, the main venue for the Games, is reaffirming its role as an international hub for education and research, combining academic excellence, hospitality, and innovation. With its residential structure, strong international outlook, and strategic location in the Mediterranean, the University of Salerno is an ideal setting to host the core values of EUSA: inclusion, intercultural dialogue, education, and personal growth through sport.

A well-deserved milestone: the role of CUS Salerno

Hosting the EUG 2026 in Salerno is also a well-earned recognition for CUS Salerno, which for over forty years has promoted university sport with an educational and developmental vision. Through constant work, also on the international level, CUS Salerno has established itself as a tireless engine of initiatives that place sport at the heart of students’ personal and collective development. The 2026 Games celebrate a long journey of commitment, values, and passion.

A story of culture, health, and technology

The EUG 2026 will be deeply connected to the local territory, weaving together sport, identity, wellness, and innovation:
The cultural heritage and historical legacy of the Salerno area will serve as both backdrop and inspiration: divine coastlines, ancient temples, historic towns, and scenic landscapes will enrich the competitions and offer athletes and international spectators a unique experience.

The Mediterranean Diet, a UNESCO World Heritage and global symbol of sustainability and health, will be a central narrative element of the Games and a key part of the athletes’ experience. In this context, the symbolic and cultural proximity to the Salerno Medical School – the oldest medical-scientific institution in Europe – represents a priceless historical legacy and an ideal reference point for promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles in contemporary sport.

The storytelling of the event will also feature cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Big Data, pillars of the research developed in the University of Salerno’s many excellent laboratories. Innovative formats will be tested for communication, performance monitoring, accessibility, and digital engagement, ensuring a 360° immersive experience aligned with the most advanced standards of European digitalisation.

On the road to 2026

The University of Salerno, CUS Salerno, and ADISURC (the Regional Agency for the Right to Education in Campania), with the patronage of FederCUSI and the support of the Campania Region, are working together to make the EUG 2026 a memorable event, in line with EUSA’s vision: to promote sport as a tool for growth, inclusion, peace, and European citizenship.

Aerial view of Salerno in Italy at sunset

The countdown to the EUG 2026 will officially start with the press conference scheduled for Monday 28 July at 10.30 at the Fisciano campus, an important event to present the first “test event” of the 2026 Games. This is the European Universities 3×3 Basketball Championship 2025 EUC 3×3!

From 1 to 5 August, student-athletes from 17 nations will meet in Salerno. Organized by the University of Salerno, Adisurc (the Company for the Right to University Education of the Campania Region) and CUS Salerno, with the support of the Campania Region and with the direction of EUSA, the European Universities 3×3 Basketball Championship 2025 will see the participation of 250 athletes and technicians, 44 European teams involving 33 universities in over 130 official competitions!

Salerno and its University are ready to host five days of sport and passion, to start breathing the atmosphere of EUG 2026.

The start is set one year from today, July 18, 2026: Salerno will become the beating heart of European university sport.
The countdown begins now – just one year to go!