Boccia, a game of strategy and precision played by athletes with disabilities, will bring the world back to Birmingham in summer 2026.

Hot off the completion of the World Police and Fire Games, that brought athletes from more than 70 countries, the Boccia International Sports Federation announced Birmingham as the host city for the World Boccia Challenger, scheduled for June 16 to 23, 2026. The event will be the first time since 2017 the United States has hosted a world event for boccia.

“It is our great honor to welcome the global boccia community to Birmingham, Alabama,” Dan Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in a statement.

“Hosting this important and impactful event reinforces Birmingham’s reputation as a premier sports destination, and provides an incredible opportunity to showcase our city’s signature hospitality, world-class venues and vibrant culture.”

Boccia, an adapted version of bocce, became a Paralympic sport in 1984 and has become one of the fastest-growing Paralympic sports practiced in more than 50 countries worldwide, according to the Boccia International Sports Federation.

The Birmingham event will bring together athletes from around the globe where competitors can earn points toward qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

The competition will be held at Lakeshore Foundation, an internationally recognized sports facility for people with disabilities and home for Boccia United States through the Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization.

“Lakeshore’s selection to host an international event on our home soil gives us an opportunity to highlight the outstanding facilities at Lakeshore and it gives us a great opportunity to work with city leaders to show off Birmingham as a vibrant and accessible host city,” Jen Allred, Lakeshore’s chief program officer, said in a statement.

“As the home for Boccia United States, we are excited for the opportunity.”

Birmingham will be placed on the world stage among other major cities such as Ryad, Saudi Arabia, Montreal, Canada and Seoul, South Korea which will also be hosting Boccia competitions in 2026.

The full list of 2026 World Boccia events includes:

• Ryad 2026 World Boccia Challenger, Saudi Arabia
• Montreal 2026 World Boccia Cup, Canada
• Birmingham 2026 World Boccia Challenger, USA
• South American Para Games – Valledupar, Columbia
• Povoa 2026 World Boccia Cup – Portugal
• Astana 2026 World Boccia Cup, Kazakhstan
• Poznan 2026 World Boccia Challenger, Poland
• Seoul 2026 World Boccia Championships, South Korea
• Pilsen 2026 World Boccia Challenger, Czech Republic
• Asian Para Games – Nagoya, Japan
• Foz do Iguaçu 2026 World Boccia Cup, Brazil