Barents Games is a sports festival comprising of over 30 different sports.
The games are an arena for both sporting and cultural exchange and makes people-to-people cooperation between the countries in the Barents region possible.
The games are an arena for both sporting and cultural exchange and makes people-to-people cooperation between the countries in the Barents region possible.
The countdown to the Barents Summer Games 2026 has begun. From the 21st – 23rd of August, the event will bring together up to 800 young athletes from northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway to compete in multiple sports across the city.
The Young Leaders in Barents (YLIB) programme offers young people the opportunity to learn, grow and gain real experience in sports leadership. Now, after a three-year period of the programme being funded by the Erasmus+, this article brings together the experiences and insights of the participants themselves.
The Games will bring nearly 700 young athletes aged 15–25 to Oulu from Northern Norway, Northern Sweden, and Northern Finland on 21–23 August. A total of 14 different sports will be represented, with local sports clubs involved in organizing each discipline. More than 300 volunteers will be working at the event, and the total budget exceeds €350,000.
The Young Leaders in Barents (YLIB) group came together in Piteå for a weekend meeting that combined planning for upcoming Barents Games, developing new ideas and simply enjoying time together in a relaxed and open atmosphere.
Last weekend Oulu hosted meetings of the International Barents Sports Committee (BSC) and Young Leaders in Barents (YLIB), bringing together key actors involved in the development of the Barents Games. The meetings were held at Lapland Hotel Oulu, providing a central setting for discussions on upcoming events and preparations for the Barents Summer Games.
It's time to discover Oulu, the host city of the Barents Summer Games 2026! This vibrant city in Northern Finland combines Arctic nature, a maritime environment, and dynamic urban culture in a way that offers unforgettable experiences for both athletes and visitors.
The preparations for the Barents Summer Games 2026 are supported by the Barents Sports Development Project, which aims to strengthen expertise in event organization, responsibility, and shared operating models.
Oulu is preparing to host an international youth sports event as the Barents Summer Games 2026 will take place in the city in August 2026.
Over the past few days, representatives from Barents Sports have visited Oulu and Piteå to continue preparations for two major upcoming events: Barents Summer Games 2026 (BSG26) in Oulu and Barents Winter Games 2027 (BWG27) in Piteå.
