Limerick’s streets, parks and public spaces will come alive in a few weeks as the 2026 European Sport for All Games takes place from August 7th to 10th.
This festival of cultural games will bring almost 50 different traditional sports and games to locations across Limerick City, inviting people of all ages to watch, try and enjoy sports from across Europe.
The event will see Limerick welcome 26 European delegations as part of a colourful celebration of sport, culture, participation and heritage. Unlike elite sporting events, the European Sport for All Games are built around inclusion, public participation and the simple idea that sport and physical activity should be open to everyone.
VARIED PROGRAMME
Across the four-day programme, people will have the opportunity to experience games including Horseshoe Throwing, Barrel Rolling, Tamburello, Serbian folk wrestling, Pljockanje, Tchoukball, Dance, Tug of War, Pulli Dog, Misket (Marbles), Topac (Spinning Top), Gymnastics and many, many more.
Events will take place at a number of high-profile locations including O’Connell Avenue, The Hunt Museum Garden, Arthur’s Quay Park, Honan’s Quay, People’s Park, Mary Immaculate College and the University of Limerick. The opening ceremony will take place in King John’s Castle and the closing ceremony in the Milk Market.
The Games are being organised by Limerick Sports Partnership, in collaboration with TAFISA, Limerick City and County Council, University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College, Sport Ireland and other partners with the support of EU funding.
EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Speaking at the unveiling of the programme, Phelim Macken, Manager of Limerick Sports Partnership, said that they want “families, young people, older people, local clubs, community groups and visitors to come into the city, meet the European delegations and experience sports and games they may never have seen before.”
“The programme is accessible and full of energy. It gives Limerick a wonderful opportunity to showcase itself as a welcoming, active and inclusive city, while also celebrating the traditional sports and games that form such an important part of Europe’s shared cultural heritage,” he added.
The public programme will begin on Friday, 7th August, with traditional sports and games at the Mary Immaculate College Campus from 10am to 4pm. The Games will continue across Limerick City Centre on Saturday, 8th August and Sunday, 9th August, from 11am to 4pm, before concluding on Monday, 10th August with a final public showcase at the University of Limerick Campus from 11am to 2pm ahead of the closing ceremony.
Members of the public are invited to attend the opening and closing public activity days at MIC and UL, as well as the city-centre programme on Saturday and Sunday. All locations will feature a mix of demonstrations, have-a-go activities and cultural exchanges with visiting delegations.
Full programme details are available at limericksportforall.ie
