2026 Mediterranean Games to be held in Taranto, Italy

Taranto, Italy, will host the 2026 Mediterranean Games from August 21 to September 3, 2026. The XX Mediterranean Games will bring together athletes from 26 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea to compete in a wide array of sports. The official slogan for the event is "Embrace the Future."

The Mediterranean Games, one of the oldest international sports organizations, began in 1951 in Alexandria, Egypt. The idea originated during the 1948 London Olympics, proposed by Muhammed Taher Pasha, then president of the Egyptian Olympic Committee. Initially involving 10 countries and 734 athletes across 13 sports, the Games have since expanded significantly. The organizational structure also evolved, with a supervisory board formed in 1955 and later becoming the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (CIJM) in 1961.

Historically, the Games were held the year before the Summer Olympics. However, since 1993, they have been scheduled for the year after the Olympics to better integrate into the international sports calendar. Held every four years, the event remains the most important multi-sport competition in the Mediterranean region.

Turkey has seen a substantial increase in its medal count in recent years. The 2013 Mersin Games were Turkey's most successful, with 126 medals. At the 2022 Oran Games, Turkey finished second overall, securing 108 medals, including 45 gold, 26 silver, and 37 bronze. The 2026 Games will include sports such as basketball, archery, athletics, boxing, football, swimming, and wrestling, among many others.