Phygital International has officially opened the host city bidding process for the 2028, 2029 and 2030 editions of the Games of the Future, the world’s premiere phygital sports event.
As phygital sport continues to expand globally, the bidding process offers ambitious cities the opportunity to play a leading role in the future of sport, technology and youth engagement. Combining immersive digital gameplay with physical competition, the Games of the Future has become an international platform for next-generation entertainment and innovation.
The event brings host cities more than global recognition. It creates opportunities to grow and improve sports programs, encourage young people to get involved in healthy activities, and produce lasting benefits for tourism, investment and local communities.”
The first milestone in the bidding process is the submission of a Letter of Intent by 1 August 2026. Cities and organisations entering the process must also secure early endorsement from a relevant governmental or official authority. Further requirements and timelines will be shared as the process progresses.
The announcement follows the success of the Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE which delivered:
- 40,000+ on-site spectators
- 461 million broadcast views
- 137 million unique viewers
- 59 million hours watched globally
- 388 million social media views
- 90% of the audience aged 18–34
With the Games of the Future 2026 scheduled to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 29 July to 9 August, and a shortlist of countries – including South Africa, Brazil, Serbia and Uzbekistan – already in contention to host the 2027 edition, the opening of bids for 2028 to 2030 represents another important step in the global growth of phygital sport.
“Hosting the Games of the Future provides a platform to drive youth engagement, accelerate digital transformation and strengthen international visibility through sport and technology,” said John Hewitt, International Marketing & Communications Director at Phygital International. “Building on the success of Abu Dhabi and ahead of Astana this summer, we are inviting ambitious cities to help shape the next chapter of this global movement. We are seeking partner cities with the vision, infrastructure and commitment to deliver an edition of the Games of the Future that reflects local culture while contributing to the evolution of sport.”
Host cities are selected through a competitive international process and assessed against criteria including infrastructure readiness, delivery capability, digital innovation, legacy planning, community engagement, and alignment with the values of phygital sport. All bids are reviewed by an independent expert committee convened by Phygital International.
For more information on hosting the Games of the Future from 2028 onwards, contact team@phygitalinternational.com.
