Birmingham to host the 2027 Invictus Games after £26m bid
Birmingham will host the 2027 Invictus Games at the NEC, after beating off competition from Washington DC.
The sporting competition for injured military personnel and veterans will be back on home turf for the first time after the Duke of Sussex staged the inaugural tournament in London in 2014.
Prince Harry, the Invictus Games founder, said the city’s strong ties to the armed forces community “made it a formidable contender from the very start”.
The £26m government-backed bid referenced the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which receives and treats wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, the Royal College of Defence Medicine, which trains UK Clinicians, and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall, a world-class military rehabilitation centre.
The Duke of Sussex said: “We have no doubt the people of Birmingham will join in celebrating the unwavering respect and admiration we have for our veteran and service community, showing the world how their courage ignites hope and unites us all – something your city knows well.”
Stephen “Hoops” Hooper, Team UK captain for the 2025 games said: “Birmingham is a special place for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, as they all come through here at some point.
“With support from the Royal British Legion for Team UK, Invictus has helped me embrace life again. As we prepare for Canada next year, it’s great to know the games are coming home in 2027.”
A flag-raising ceremony with Veterans Minister Al Carns will be staged at the NEC on Tuesday morning to mark the announcement.
He said: “The Invictus Games harness the power of sport to supercharge the recovery and rehabilitation of military personnel and veterans. Our exceptional Armed Forces make countless acts of courage and selflessness in their duties and we will always support wounded, injured and sick personnel and veterans. The Invictus Games are just one way we offer lasting support to personnel and veterans facing illness or injury.”
Helen Helliwell, CEO of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, said “I am honoured our bid has been selected, bringing the Invictus Games back to the UK. At NEC Birmingham, we’ll host the most cohesive, sustainable event in Invictus Games history with all sports, ceremonies, and accommodation on one fantastic site. Beyond the Games, our legacy programs will benefit communities nationwide, from adaptive sports to arts and employment.
