UKEL to support the 2027 IWBF European Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Liverpool

IWBF Europe has awarded British Wheelchair Basketball the hosting rights for the 2027 European Championships, with the prestigious competition set to be hosted in Liverpool.

Taking place between 11-19 September 2027 at the iconic M&S Bank Arena along Liverpool’s waterfront, the event is set to showcase the world’s best athletes who redefine what it means to be powerful, skilled, and relentless whilst providing a platform to change societal narratives around disability. Fans will experience adrenaline-charged fixtures where tactical brilliance meets fierce physicality. 

For the elite men’s and women’s national teams set to compete, the stakes could not be higher. The 2027 European Championships serve as a direct qualifying opportunity for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles for European nations.

It’s all to play for

Great Britain’s men’s and women’s teams will play on a home court for the first time since 2015* as they look to secure their route to LA 2028, building momentum to claim their first-ever Paralympic gold medals in the legendary stadium that hosts the LA Lakers and LA Sparks.

Justine Baynes, CEO of British Wheelchair Basketball, commented: "This isn't just about sport; it's about a movement. We are bringing the highest level of international competition to one of the most passionate sporting cities in the world. The energy at the M&S Bank Arena will be electric, and we aim to use this momentum to create substantial and sustainable opportunities for people within the UK to engage with wheelchair basketball."

Owned and awarded by IWBF Europe, the IWBF Wheelchair Basketball European Championships is a bi-annual event that involved both men’s and women’s teams from nations across Europe. The event includes a combined Championship for men and women to be crowned the best in Europe. In year’s preceding the Paralympic Games, the event also provides a direct qualification opportunity to the Paralympic Games the following year.

Walter Pfaller, President of IWBF Europe added: “We are delighted to award the hosting rights of the 2027 IWBF European Championships to British Wheelchair Basketball and the city of Liverpool. Great Britain has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver major international events to an exceptional standard, and together with Liverpool’s excellent facilities, accessibility, and strong sporting culture, we are confident this will be a fantastic Championship for teams, athletes, fans, and partners alike. Liverpool is the city of The Beatles. Liverpool is a city of sport. Liverpool is the city for wheelchair basketball.”

UKEL planning and delivery

The event will be planned and delivered by UKEL, on behalf of British Wheelchair Basketball. UKEL will ensure an exceptional event is delivered for athletes, officials and fans. There will be an extensive social impact programme, ensuring a positive legacy is left from the hosting of this event for the sport and local community.

This ambitious event sets out to be a game-changer for the sport of wheelchair basketball in the UK, and is made possible with significant investment from The National Lottery, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Experience Campus and Liverpool Accommodation BID.

Esther Britten MBE, Head of Events at UK Sport, said: “We are delighted that world-class wheelchair basketball will return to the UK in 2027 for the first time in more than a decade. The support of The National Lottery has been instrumental in bringing this event back to the UK and giving British teams a golden opportunity to compete in front of home fans as they build towards the Paralympic Games in 2028.”

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr William Shortall, said: “We are delighted to be bringing yet another historic sporting occasion to Liverpool next year as we continue to build our status as the go-to host city for major events in the UK. Liverpool is a place that values inclusion and opportunity for all, and as a wheelchair user myself, I’m proud to see our city chosen to stage this prestigious competition. Hosting this event will provide an incredible platform to champion accessibility, shine a spotlight on inclusion, and amplify visibility and opportunities for people with disabilities throughout our community and beyond.”

Wheelchair basketball is a welcoming environment for all, and this event promises to be a highlight of the 2027 sporting calendar within the UK. The M&S Bank Arena looks forward to welcoming all fans, whether you’re a life-long GB fanatic or are simply looking for a truly unforgettable experience.

For more information and to register your interest for tickets head to the event website – www.wbeuro27.com or follow on social media @wbeuro27.

*The last IWBF major to be hosted in the UK was the 2015 European Championships in Worcester.