Special Olympics European Football Week 2026 (#EFW2026) will return from 23-30 May, bringing together more than 30,000 participants with and without intellectual disabilities across 300 events in 40 countries throughout the region.
Now in its 26th edition, the annual campaign continues to be one of the largest grassroots football inclusion movements in Europe Eurasia, using the power of sport to build connections between athletes, coaches, families, schools, clubs, federations and communities. The 2026 theme ‘Power of Partnerships’ highlights the central role of collaboration in expanding opportunities for participation and inclusion through football.
Key activities during the week will include local ‘Come and Try’ opportunities for players with and without intellectual disabilities, national football competitions, UEFA Club Final Fan Festival activations, European Union-funded ‘I Coach Girls+’ events, as well as World Football Day celebrations on 25 May.
Sven Albrecht, President & Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, said: “Special Olympics European Football Week is built on partnership at every level, from local schools and clubs, to corporate partners including UPS Europe and Toyota Motor Europe (TME), national federations, and regional organisations such as UEFA. The 2026 edition reflects what we know to be true: inclusion does not happen in isolation. It happens when we work together with shared purpose.”
“Through the beautiful game, we are creating spaces where people of all abilities can participate, belong and thrive. ‘Power of Partnerships’ is not just a theme, it is how we grow our movement and ensure lasting change in communities across Europe Eurasia.”
UEFA, a long-standing ally for inclusion
Special Olympics’ partnership with UEFA has played a key role in the growth of European Football Week over the years since its establishment in 1999. UEFA has consistently supported Special Olympics initiatives through visibility platforms, event activations, National Football Associations involvement, and engagement at flagship football moments such as UEFA Club Final Fan Festivals.
Filippo Veglio, UEFA Chief of Social and Environmental Sustainability, said: “UEFA is proud to have supported Special Olympics for more than two decades. At the heart of our long-standing partnership lies a simple yet significant objective: in football, everyone is welcome. Special Olympics’ outstanding work brings to life the ambition of our #FootbALL programme and approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, through which we strive to harness the unique power of our game to drive meaningful change in society.”
“For many years, Special Olympics has been successfully turning this ambition into action, creating more opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to play, compete and thrive. Special Olympics’ Unified model is a particularly powerful expression of this spirit, bringing players with and without intellectual disabilities onto the same team, in a living symbol of inclusion and unity.”
“We wish Special Olympics every success with European Football Week 2026.”
Building momentum across Europe Eurasia
Throughout May, Special Olympics athletes will be featured at major football events, including:
- 11-13 May - Soccerex, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- 20 May - UEFA Europa League Festival, Istanbul, Türkiye
- 25 May - World Football Day
- 30 May - UEFA Champions League Festival, Budapest, Hungary
EFW2026 will also connect through national-level football campaigns, further strengthening visibility and engagement across the region.
Participants and partners are encouraged to share their stories using #SpecialOlympics #EFW2026 and tagging @SOEuropeEurasia to help amplify the movement across digital platforms.
