England has been awarded the hosting rights for the prestigious EuroHockey Championships 2027, subject to final contract and commercial negotiations. This major European event, sanctioned by EuroHockey, will see the finest hockey talent from Europe compete in an unforgettable tournament in Summer 2027.
The decision was made following a meeting of the EuroHockey Board on Friday 27 September. This decision marks an exciting step forward for England, as it will be the first time since 2015 that the EuroHockey Championships will return to English soil.
England Hockey’s bid demonstrated the country’s strong infrastructure, passionate fan base, and innovative vision for growing the sport. The event will be a key milestone in England’s long-term strategy to elevate hockey, and increase its visibility, relevancy, and accessibility across the country.
EuroHockey President, Marcos Hofmann said on England Hockey’s bid “England’s selection as the host for the EuroHockey Championships 2027 reflects the strength of their bid. The EuroHockey board was impressed by their vision and commitment to delivering an exceptional tournament. We are confident that England will provide a fantastic platform for Europe’s top hockey talent to compete at the highest level.
We are looking forward to a really amazing event in Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, and the exciting prospect of huge crowds with the return of Big Stadium Hockey.”
The EuroHockey Championships 2027 will bring thousands of international visitors to England and offer a significant boost to the sport at all levels, from grassroots to elite performance.
Kath Russ, Chair of England Hockey said “We are incredibly proud to have been awarded the EuroHockey Championships 2027. This is a momentous achievement for hockey in England, and we are excited about the opportunity to deliver an unforgettable tournament for fans, players, and the hockey community.” Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, located in the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, whose purpose-built facilities are designed to meet the highest international standards, will host the group games, quarter-finals, and side events for the 2027 event. It has successfully hosted the 2015 EuroHockey Championships, the FIH Champions Trophy in 2016, and the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup in 2018, along with multiple FIH Hockey Pro League events over the years.
Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: “this continues an incredible run of major international events at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre since London 2012. It further cements our role as the home of English hockey events, a key part of our legacy programme along with a full range of school, club and community activities.”
The semi-finals and finals of the Championships will see the return of Big Stadium Hockey, a pioneering concept transforming sporting stadiums into world-class hockey venues. This innovative approach, demonstrated at The Twickenham Stoop in 2019, offers the unique opportunity to bring hockey to larger audiences, with up to 15,000 fans planned for each of the semi-finals and finals. A robust tender process will take place to decide the venue for the final stages of the tournament.
With strategic support from UK Sport and funding from The National Lottery, UK Sport’s Head of Major Events Esther Britten said: “Hosting major events like this continues to demonstrate the UK’s reputation as one of the world’s leading hosts, creating extraordinary sporting moments that reach, unite and inspire the nation.
We look forward to working with our event hosting partners to both inspire fans who will see Europe’s best teams compete and deliver meaningful social impact that will make a positive difference to the local communities of this event.”
England Hockey looks forward to working closely with EuroHockey, UK Sport and all other stakeholders to deliver an exceptional EuroHockey Championships in 2027 that will inspire fans and participants alike.
