Valencia put forward as presumptive host of the 2026 Gay Games

“Valencia!” was the city spoken aloud during the annual general meeting of the Federation of Gay Games (FGG). The city was chosen as the presumptive host the 2026 Gay Games, beating out rival bids from Guadalajara and Munich.

There is still some paperwork to be completed before the arrangement becomes final. Still, the scene at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton was one of joy as the Valencia bid team learned their city had been chosen as the presumptive host.

A statement posted to Instagram read, “our dream has come true and we can officially say that we will host the XII edition of the Gay Games in 2026. An event that will make València a world benchmark in inclusion, equality, diversity, respect and will help us fight for the promotion of human rights.”

“Thank you very much for your support! Now get ready to participate because we want to see how you enjoy sports and culture in València. We are waiting for you with open arms, you will discover an open, diverse, inclusive and sustainable city, a place that adapts to you and works to make you feel safe and comfortable.”

The announcement was one of the last stages of a bidding process that began nearly two years ago in January 2020. There was a record number of cities interested in hosting the 2026 edition of the Games, with 20 cities expressing initial interest.

That list would eventually be whittled down to eight candidates by the time letters of intent to submit a bid were due. The cities that made that list included Auckland, Brisbane, Guadalajara, Munich, San Diego, Taipei, Toronto, and Valencia.

That list was then further cut down to just three cities; Guadalajara, Munich, and Valencia. Guadalajara and Munich both boast solid multi-sports games credentials, with Guadalajara hosting the Pan American Games in 2011, and Munich hosting the upcoming 2022 European Championships, as well as the Olympic Games in 1972.

Valencia, on the other hand, was a relative newcomer to the multi-sports games scene. Despite not boasting the strong credentials of their counterparts, they emerged as the presumptive hosts of the 12th Gay Games.

Speaking on the announcement, FGG co-president Joanie Evans stated, “we are so excited to be heading there in 2026. As someone who has been on a bid team, I know the heartache of not winning and I want to recognise our two other finalists, Guadalajara and Munich.”

“That said, we feel that Valencia will bring a rich dimension to the Games and, this being the first time a Games will be held in Spain, it will have a positive impact on the city.”

Valencia would become the fourth European city to host the Gay Games, after Amsterdam, Cologne, and Paris.

The Gay Games, conceived by Olympic decathlete Tom Waddell, were first held in San Francisco in 1982. The first edition held outside the United States was the 1990 Gay Games in Vancouver, Canada.

The competition has been held on three continents, and hosted by six countries since then. The next edition of the Games will be the first held on the Asian continent, when Hong Kong plays host to the 2023 Gay Games, which were postponed from their original date due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The essence of the Gay Games is a multi-sport games that works to eliminate barriers in sport, while encouraging inclusive participation. The Gay Games are open to all athletes regardless of sexual orientation.

According to the bid timeline given by the FGG, Valencia should be announced as the official host of the 2026 Gay Games sometime in February 2022. In the event that Valencia is not finalized as the host city, an alternative city will be chosen according to the FGG.