On International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, entries have opened for the 2026 World Abilitysport Guttmann Games, marking a significant milestone in the development of international opportunities for athletes across non-Paralympic Games sports.

Set to take place in Lahti, Finland from 16-21 August 2026, the event will bring together athletes from around the world to compete in a diverse, multi-sport programme designed to support growth, promotion and visibility in upcoming and developing sports.

World Abilitysport President, Rudi Van den Abbeele said, “Since formalising our involvement with the ever-growing world of non-Paralympic Games sports, I have been astonished at the talent and development happening around the world.”

“Continuing the legacy of innovation in sport for athletes with physical impairments as our founder Sir Ludwig Guttmann began is one we take with great pride. We greatly look forward to welcoming your athletes to the magnificent setting of Sport Institute of Three Campuses – Pajulahti Campus for this milestone event.”

Athletes will compete across four days of competition in a programme of disability snooker, Para dance sport, Para disc golf, standing tennis, wheelchair ultimate, Para triathle and Para laser run (disciplines of Para Modern Pentathlon).

World Abilitysport Acting CEO, Harry Cootes said, “World Abilitysport has positioned itself in the driving seat of innovation in sport for athletes with physical impairments. Keeping the Para sport landscape fresh and constantly pushing the boundaries of possibility starts with giving non-Paralympic Games sports the stage for exposure and international competition opportunities.”

“The 2026 Guttmann Games will be the first multi-Para sport event of its kind and underlines World Abilitysport’s strategic commitment to opening up more opportunities to more athletes with physical impairments across a wider variety of established, upcoming and new sports.”

The Guttmann Games are named after World Abilitysport founder, Sir Ludwig Guttmann, whose pioneering work laid the foundations for Para sport and continues to inspire new pathways for athletes today.

Event and Development Director, Laura Kittelä said, “It is an honor to host the inaugural Guttmann Games. As Finland’s only Paralympic Training Center, para sports and events are strategically important to us. We are thrilled to collaborate with World Abilitysport to develop this competition concept further and create lifelong memories for the athletes.”

Para Dance Sport will be staged as an international open for the first time in Finland, welcoming a strong field of home athletes while disability snooker makes its second appearance at a World Abilitysport Games, following its successful debut in Nakhon Ratchasima in 2023.

Building on its success at the 2025 World Abilitysport Beach Games, Para Laser Run returns in 2026 with the added discipline of Para triathle which will see a swimming element added to the competition.

Making their World Abilitysport and multi-sport Games debut, Para Disc Golf and Wheelchair Ultimate, two sports governed by World Flying Disc Federation, will be in action, alongside an international showcase of Standing Tennis.

The venue, which is the country’s Paralympic training centre and located in the picturesque Nastola in Lahti boasts facilities from an ice rink to 25m lake swimming and offers fully accessible onsite accommodation.

The Centre hosted the European Para Youth Games in 2019 and 2022 and will also welcome the International Powerchair Hockey World Championships in May.

Entry by number opens on 6^th April closing on 24th April which will end in an assessment of the viability of the sports on the programme. A final list of sports will then be released with final entries (entry by name) opening on 1^st June 2026. For more information on the Games, please click here.