The IQA is pleased to announce that the European Games 2026, in partnership with the Quadball Nations Cup, will take place in Salou, Catalonia, Spain, on 3-4 October 2026 at the Mediterranean Sport Village.
Why Salou was chosen and how the process unfolded
While the IQA generally opens a public bid process for European Games, this year presented unique circumstances. During the World Cup hosting bid evaluation (October 2024), Daniel Price submitted world‑cup bid to host in Salou but was not selected. However, due to its well-established facilities, logistical advantages, and existing tournament structure with the Quadball Nations Cup, the IQA agreed it was strategically sensible to align the European Games with the Nations Cup 2026 in Salou.
Under the Board’s motion, Salou was formally approved for EG2026, and this decision was communicated internally to NGB representatives, with the understanding that detailed logistics would be finalised by the operations team and reviewed by the Board prior to the public announcement.
Partnership and local NGB involvement
The IQA will work closely with Daniel Edward Price Croft, Tournament Director of the Quadball Nations Cup and lead of the bid, alongside the Associació de Quadbol de Catalunya and the Asociación Quádbol España. All three will have representatives on the organising committee. Their joint involvement ensures local insight, coordination between all key stakeholders, and a strong foundation for delivering a successful event.
Marc Alcalà‑i‑Rams, president of the Catalan Quadball NGB, said:
“The Catalan quadball community has dreamed of hosting an IQA event for years now, and we appreciate that this chance comes through the Quadball Nations Cup. As a founding member of the IQA, this is certainly a milestone for Catalonia. Our country and our community have proven to be welcoming and exciting for international players, and we hope this event proves to be special for both new and old to Salou.”
Daniel Price, coordinator of the Nations Cup bid, added:
“For several years now, Salou has allowed me to help quadball take a very small step forward. It’s truly an honour to be able to take it one step further, bringing together first and second teams in one place, at one time. My biggest hope is that this will inspire teams across Europe to bring their heads together and organise bids for future events—let this be a new beginning for European quadball, a world in which you’ll only have to come to Salou once a year in October.”
What’s next
With the host city now confirmed, the IQA will focus on finalising the event format, registration details, and operational timelines in coordination with our local partners.
We will soon share information about how teams can begin preparing, how volunteers and officials can get involved, and what to expect over the coming months. Our goal is to ensure that all stakeholders are informed, engaged, and supported throughout the planning process.
We look forward to working with all teams, NGBs, and participants to make the European Games 2026 in Salou an exceptional milestone for European quadball.