2026 Mediterranean Games

20th edition of the Mediterranean Games

XX Mediterranean Games

Host city| Taranto
Country| Italy
Edition| 20th
Nations| 27
Opening| 21 August 2026
Closing| 3 September 2026
Main venue| Stadio Erasmo Iacovone
Website| ta2026.com

<- Oran 2022

Pristina 2030 ->

The 2026 Mediterranean Games (Italian: Giochi del Mediterraneo 2026), officially known as the XX Mediterranean Games (Italian: XX Giochi del Mediterraneo) and commonly known as Taranto 2026, is a upcoming international multi-sport event in the Mediterranean Games series that is scheduled to be held from 21 August to 3 September 2026 in Taranto, Italy. Taranto was announced as the host city at the ICMG General Assembly in Patras, Greece, on 24 August 2019.

The games were originally set to be held from June 13 to 23, but were moved to August 21 to September 3 to avoid the peak summer weather, as well as to not clash with any other major sporting events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which would allow more high-level athletes to participate. [1] The event return to its traditional 4-year cycle following the 2021 Mediterranean Games postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Bidding process

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In July 2019, the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM) announced the end of the candidature process and the sole candidate city, Taranto, for the 2026 Games,[2] and on 24 August, Taranto was awarded the 2026 Games following a unanimous vote by the CIJM.[2][3][4][5]

2026 Mediterranean Games
bidding results  City  | NOC  | Votes

|
|

Taranto |  Italy | Unanimous

## Development and preparation

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### Venues

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The following sites and venues will be used: Taranto, Torricella, Sava, San Giorgio Jonico, Massafra, Martina Franca, Grottaglie, Ginosa, Crispiano, Castellaneta, Lecce, Brindisi, Francavilla Fontana, Fasano, Monopoli and the Valle d’Itria for cycling. The venues that will be rebuilt or improved are: «il campo scuola al quartiere Salinella, the stadio Iacovone, the Stadio Via del Mare,[6] the Palamazzola, the Palafiom, the pattinodromo della Salinella and the circolo Tennis.

### Emblem

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The emblem for the 2026 Mediterranean Games was unveiled on 14 December 2019 at the Palace of Taranto.[7][8] It was designed by the Istituto Comprensivo Gaetano Salvemini as part of a contest announced in May by the Municipality of Taranto.[8] Resembling the Sailor Monument in the city, the emblem is formed up of two anthropomorphized x's that compose the number 20 written in Roman numerals.[8]

### Mascot

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The mascot is Ionios, a dolphin carrying a torch. The dolphin is the symbol of Taranto.[9]

## The Games

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### Sports

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23 Olympic sports will be contested and also 2 non-Olympic ones, with 7 team sports.[10]

2022 Mediterranean Games sports programme

* Aquatics
* Swimming (38) (details)
* Water polo (1) (details)
* Finswimming (1) (details)
* Archery (5) (details)
* Athletics (38) (details)
* Badminton (4) (details)
* 3x3 basketball (2) (details)
* Bowls (12) (details)
* Cycling (details)
* Road (4)
* Equestrian (details)
* Jumping (2)
* Fencing (6) (details)
* Football (1) (details)
* Gymnastics
* Artistic gymnastics (details) (14)
* Handball (2) (details)
* Judo (14) (details)
* Karate (10) (details)
* Sailing (4) (details)
* Shooting (11) (details)
* Table tennis (4) (details)
* Taekwondo (8) (details)
* Tennis (4) (details)
* Volleyball (2) (details)
* Weightlifting (16) (details)
* Wrestling (18) (details)

#### Demonstration sports

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* Baseball5 (details)
* Flying disc (details)
* Kickboxing (details)

[11]

### Participating nations

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Athletes from 26 member nations of the CIJM are eligible to participate in the games.

Participating National Committees

* Albania
* Algeria
* Andorra
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Egypt
* France
* Greece
* Italy (host country)
* Kosovo
* Lebanon
* Libya
* Malta
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Morocco
* North Macedonia
* Portugal
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Syria
* Tunisia
* Turkey

## References

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1. ^ "New dates for the 20th Mediterranean Games "Taranto 2026"". cijm.org.gr. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
2. ^ a b "The city of Taranto candidate for the XX Mediterranean Games". International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
3. ^ "Taranto will organize the 20th Mediterranean Games". International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). 24 August 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
4. ^ "Olympic Highlights 22/07/2019". Olympics. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
5. ^ "A Taranto i XX Giochi del Mediterraneo. Malagò: 'che orgoglio, Italia protagonista assoluta nel 2026'" (in Italian). Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). 24 August 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
6. ^ "Ufficiale, a Taranto i Giochi del Mediterraneo 2026. E arrivano i fondi per il Via del Mare". www.calciolecce.it. 24 August 2019.
7. ^ "Taranto 2026: The official logo of the Mediterranean Games". International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM). 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
8. ^ a b c "Storia dei Giochi ed Edizioni" (in Italian). Taranto. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
9. ^ "Ionios, mascot of the Mediterranean Games". Mediterranean Games Committee. 2023.
10. ^ "Taranto the Mediterranean Games of 2026". www.ta2026.com.
11. ^ "ICMG Coordination Commission concludes productive visit to Taranto for the 2026 Mediterranean Games". ICMG. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.

Preceded by

Oran

|  Mediterranean Games
Taranto
2026  | Succeeded by

Pristina

|
|

## External links

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* Official Website

Portals:

* Italy
* Sports
* Europe

* v
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Mediterranean Games

* 1951 Alexandria
* 1955 Barcelona
* 1959 Beirut
* 1963 Naples
* 1967 Tunis
* 1971 İzmir
* 1975 Algiers
* 1979 Split
* 1983 Casablanca
* 1987 Latakia
* 1991 Athens
* 1993 Languedoc-Roussillon
* 1997 Bari
* 2001 Tunis
* 2005 Almería
* 2009 Pescara
* 2013 Mersin
* 2018 Tarragona
* 2022 Oran
* 2026 Taranto
* 2030 Pristina

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