It was a night to remember at the glittering evening reception hosted by Phygital International at the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai on October 13th, 2024. Amidst the breathtaking views, attendees eagerly awaited the much-anticipated news of the next host for the Games of the Future. With excitement in the air, the moment finally arrived — the hosts of the Games of the Future 2026 will be Kazakhstan!
After a tough competition with bids from countries all over the globe, the Games of the Future 2026 crown was awarded to Kazakhstan, following an impressive bid featuring its fantastic experience in hosting international tournaments, its numerous top-notch sports venues, as well as a vibrant culture that blends sports, tradition, and innovation seamlessly.
The Games of the Future is a unique international event, showcasing the next generation of dynamic sporting heroes from around the world. We expect the 2025 Games in the UAE and now, the 2026 Games in Kazakhstan, to welcome thousands of sports and esports athletes from around the world.
Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, commented, “We’re hugely excited at the prospect of Kazakhstan receiving the phygital flame from next year’s host, the UAE, to host the 2026 tournament. It’s so pleasing to see the exponential growth of not only phygital sports, but also the global phygital community. In fact, the host nation bidding process for The Games of the Future 2027 is already heating up, with a number of keen countries throwing their hats into the ring. However, there’s still time, the deadline for 2027 applications is in December this year.”
Yerbol Myrzabossynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports, for the Republic of Kazakhstan comments “It is a privilege for our great nation of Kazakhstan to be awarded the honour of hosting the Games of the Future in 2026. Our country has supported phygital sport from its very inception, and we take pride in being the next in line to host this great event and we’re excited to receive the phygital flame from the UAE, who’s hosting in 2025 we greatly look forward to.”
The Games of the Future is all about inclusivity without any restrictions on participants. Everyone is welcome to join in, no matter their age, gender, or nationality.
The Games of the Future continues to pave the way for a new era in the sporting world, inviting everyone to be a part of this exciting journey.