Washington, DC and Birmingham, UK are shortlisted to host the Invictus Games 2027
The Invictus Games Foundation is pleased to announce that Washington DC, USA and Birmingham, UK have been shortlisted to host the Invictus Games in 2027. This shortlist has been confirmed after a detailed process which was launched last year. A final decision by the board of trustees will be made by the end of July.
The bid from the city of Washington, led by Events DC, has outlined several potential venues in and around the city, with a focus on the George Washington University campus, alongside an indicative sports schedule which includes the nine core Invictus Games sports, plus the addition of esports.
The UK government-backed bid focuses on the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, and draws the connection to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Selly Oak and wider Defence Medical assets in the region. Birmingham also seeks to utilise the nine core sports alongside esports, as well as exploring the addition of a team triathlon as a potential new sport.
Lord Allen, Chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, said, “We were delighted to receive such a strong field of applications to host the Invictus Games in 2027, which gives us tremendous confidence for this next iteration of the Games following Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 presented by ATCO and Boeing. Both cities now shortlisted for 2027 have kept the experiences of the competitors and supporters at their core, building different but hugely exciting bids. We look forward to the next stage of the process and selecting another inspirational iteration of the games over the Summer.”
Helen Helliwell, CEO Invictus Games 2027 UK Bid, said, “We were privileged to make initial presentations to the Invictus Games Foundation Board earlier this month and are thrilled to move forward to the shortlist. We have a truly compelling bid to bring the Games back to the UK, showcasing the best of our Armed Forces communities and delivering on our pledge to make this the best country in the world to be a Veteran. As well as delivering an amazing week of the Games Festival at the NEC Birmingham (a Commonwealth Games venue in 2022), we want to use the platform of the Games to improve opportunities for adaptive sport, arts and employment, enabling communities to thrive, both in the run up to the Games and as a legacy from them, across the UK and beyond.”
Angie M. Gates, Events DC President & CEO, said, “It is an incredible honor for Washington, DC to be selected as a finalist for the 2027 Invictus Games. As the culture capital, Washington, DC is a diverse and vibrant community that welcomes meaningful competitive sports that honor our veterans. We are a world-class city united by sports and a top-tier destination, which makes us the ideal host for the Invictus Games 2027.”
The dates of the Invictus Games in 2027 are still to be confirmed and will depend upon the winning bid. In addition to selecting the venue for the Invictus Games in 2027, the Invictus Games Foundation is also working with a number of organisations interested in hosting future iterations of the Games in 2029 and 2031.
This year, the Invictus Games Foundation celebrates its 10th year anniversary since the inaugural Invictus Games London 2014. The next Games taking place are in Canada: the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 presented by ATCO and Boeing will be a Winter hybrid edition, held from February 9th to February 16th.