2026 Mediterranean Games

XX Mediterranean Games
Host cityTaranto
CountryItaly
MottoEmbrace The Future[a]
Nations26 (expected)
Events28 sports
Opening21 August 2026
Closing3 September 2026
Main venueStadio Erasmo Iacovone
Websiteta2026.com

The 2026 Mediterranean Games (Italian: Giochi del Mediterraneo 2026), officially known as the XX Mediterranean Games (Italian: XX Giochi del Mediterraneo) and commonly known as Taranto 2026, is an upcoming international multi-sport event in the Mediterranean Games series that is scheduled to be held from 21 August to 3 September 2026 in Taranto, Italy. Taranto was announced as the host city at the ICMG General Assembly in Patras, Greece, on 24 August 2019.

The Games were originally set to be held from June 13 to 23, but were moved to August 21 to September 3 to avoid the peak summer weather, as well as to not clash with any other major sporting events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which would allow more high-level athletes to participate.[1] The event return to its traditional 4-year cycle following the 2021 Mediterranean Games postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bidding process

In July 2019, the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM) announced the end of the candidature process and the sole candidate city, Taranto, for the 2026 Games,[2] and on 24 August, Taranto was awarded the 2026 Games following a unanimous vote by the CIJM.[2][3][4][5]

2026 Mediterranean Games
bidding results
City NOC Votes
Taranto  Italy Unanimous

Development and preparation

Venues

Venues will be spread across the city of Taranto, its namesake province, and the surrounding region of Apulia. Several venues will be newly built or renovated.[6]

Venue City Events Capacity Status
Stadio Erasmo Iacovone Taranto Ceremonies 16,306 Existing, replacment
Football
Stadio di atletica Giuseppe Valente Athletics 3,000 New
Magna Grecia Tennis Center Tennis 1,000 (center court)
Palaricciardi Fencing 1,000
PalaMazzola Volleyball 5,000 Existing
Torre d'Ayala Swimming Stadium Aquatics (swimming, water polo, finswimming) 2,000 (indoor pool)
1,000 (outdoor pool) 		New
Taranto Urban Circuit Road cycling 3,500 Temporary
Roller speed skating
Triathlon
Giardini Peripato 3x3 basketball 1,000
Parco Cimino Canoeing 1,000 New
Rowing
Torpediniere Nautical Center Sailing 1,000
Salinella Urban Center Padel 1,000
Skateboarding 1,000
Stadio Franco Fanuzzi Brindisi Football 7,500 Existing
PalaPentassuglia Volleyball 3,534
PalaTifo Castellaneta Table Tennis 900
PalaConversano Conversano Handball 2,800
Nuovo Palazzetto Dello Sport Crispiano Archery 1,000 New
Palazzetto dello Sport Fasano Handball 2,000 Existing
Stadio Giovanni Paolo II Francavilla Fontana Football 2,137
Palatifo e Tenso Struttura Badminton 250
Grottaglie Sports Hall Grottaglie Gymnastics 3,000
Handball 900
Stadio Via del mare Lecce Football 31,461
Palaventura Volleyball 1,300
Itria Valley Martina Franca Road cycling 3,500 Temporary
Palasport Giovanni Paolo II Massafra Volleyball 1,450 Existing
Taekwondo 800
PalaMontemesola Montemesola Bowls 900
Horse Club Terra Jonica San Giorgio Ionico Equestrian 1,000
San Giorgio Ionico Sport Hall Boxing 1,000 New
Weightlifting 500
Palestra di Quartiere Statte Handball 750 Existing
Palazzetto Albano Torricella Shooting 1,000
600

The Games

Sports

27 Olympic sports and disciplines will be contested and also 5 non-Olympic ones, with 5 team sports.[7]

2026 Mediterranean Games sports programme

Demonstration sports

In addition, 3 demonstration sports will be contested.[8]

Participating nations

All 26 National Olympic Committees who are members of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games are expected to send delegations.

Participating National Committees
  • Albania Albania
  • Algeria Algeria
  • Andorra Andorra
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Croatia Croatia
  • Cyprus Cyprus
  • Egypt Egypt
  • France France
  • Greece Greece
  • Italy Italy (host)
  • Kosovo Kosovo
  • Lebanon Lebanon
  • Libya Libya
  • Malta Malta
  • Monaco Monaco
  • Montenegro Montenegro
  • Morocco Morocco
  • North Macedonia North Macedonia
  • Portugal Portugal
  • San Marino San Marino
  • Serbia Serbia
  • Slovenia Slovenia
  • Spain Spain
  • Syria Syria
  • Tunisia Tunisia
  • Turkey Turkey

Calendar

Source:[7]

 ●  Opening ceremony  ●  Competitions  ●  Event finals  ●  Closing ceremony
August / September 2026 21st
Fri 		22nd
Sat 		23rd
Sun 		24th
Mon 		25th
Tue 		26th
Wed 		27th
Thu 		28th
Fri 		29th
Sat 		30th
Sun 		31st
Mon 		1st
Tue 		2nd
Wed 		3rd
Thu 		Events
Ceremonies ● ● N/a
3x3 basketball ● ● ● 2 2
Aquatics Finswimming ● 2 2
Swimming ● ● ● ● ?
Water polo ● ● ● ● ● ● 2 2
Archery ● ● ● 5 ?
Athletics ● ● ● ● ● ?
Badminton ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ?
Boules ● ● ● ● ?
Boxing ● ● ● ● ● ● ?
Canoeing ● ● ● ?
Cycling ● ● ?
Equestrian 1 1 2
Fencing ● ● ● ?
Football ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 2 2
Gymnastics Artistic ● ● ● ● ?
Rhythmic ● ● ?
Handball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1 2
Judo ● ● ● ?
Karate ● ● ?
Padel ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ?
Roller sports Skateboarding ● ● ?
Roller speed skating ● ?
Rowing ● ● ● ● ?
Sailing ● ● ● ● ● ● ?
Shooting ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ?
Table tennis ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ?
Taekwondo ● ● ?
Tennis ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ?
Triathlon ● ● ?
Volleyball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 2 2
Weightlifting ● ● ● ?
Wrestling ● ● ● ● ?
Daily medal events 0 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Cumulative total 0 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
August / September 2026 21st
Fri 		22nd
Sat 		23rd
Sun 		24th
Mon 		25th
Tue 		26th
Wed 		27th
Thu 		28th
Fri 		29th
Sat 		30th
Sun 		31st
Mon 		1st
Tue 		2nd
Wed 		3rd
Thu 		N/a

Marketing

Emblem

The emblem for the 2026 Mediterranean Games was unveiled on 14 December 2019 at the Palace of Taranto.[9][10] It was designed by the Istituto Comprensivo Gaetano Salvemini as part of a contest announced in May by the Municipality of Taranto.[10] Resembling the Sailor Monument in the city, the emblem is formed up of two anthropomorphized x's that compose the number 20 written in Roman numerals.[10]

Mascot

The mascot is Ionios, a dolphin carrying a torch. The dolphin is the symbol of Taranto.[11]

Notes

  1. ^ Only an English motto will be used during the Games. There is no Italian equivalent of the motto adopted.

References

  1. ^ "New dates for the 20th Mediterranean Games "Taranto 2026"". cijm.org.gr. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b "The city of Taranto candidate for the XX Mediterranean Games". International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Taranto will organize the 20th Mediterranean Games". International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). 24 August 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Olympic Highlights 22/07/2019". Olympics. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ^ "A Taranto i XX Giochi del Mediterraneo. Malagò: 'che orgoglio, Italia protagonista assoluta nel 2026'" (in Italian). Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). 24 August 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Ufficiale, a Taranto i Giochi del Mediterraneo 2026. E arrivano i fondi per il Via del Mare". www.calciolecce.it. 24 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Game Plan". www.ta2026.com. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  8. ^ "ICMG Coordination Commission concludes productive visit to Taranto for the 2026 Mediterranean Games". ICMG. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Taranto 2026: The official logo of the Mediterranean Games". International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "Storia dei Giochi ed Edizioni" (in Italian). Taranto. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Ionios, mascot of the Mediterranean Games". Mediterranean Games Committee. 2023.
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