Historic First: Vilnius to Host 2025 Europe’s Wheelchair Handball Championship
In November 2025, Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, will host Europe’s leading wheelchair handball teams for the European Wheelchair Handball Championship for the first time. This landmark event highlights both the fast-growing popularity of wheelchair handball and Vilnius’s capability to organize top-tier international sporting competitions with a focus on professionalism and accessibility.
Event Details and Significance
The championship will take place from 26 to 30 November 2025, featuring a new 4x4 competition format that aims to redefine the sport and advance its inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games. This edition is set to be the largest wheelchair handball competition ever held in Europe.
Participating Teams and Stakes
- France
- Portugal
- Spain
- The Netherlands
- Croatia
- Romania
- Hungary
- Norway
- Lithuania (host nation making its continental debut)
The two best-performing teams will qualify for the 2026 Wheelchair Handball World Championship in India.
“Hosting this championship is an important milestone for Lithuanian sport,” said Žilvinas Galimovas, General Secretary of the Lithuanian Handball Federation.
This event not only raises the profile of wheelchair handball but also reinforces Vilnius’s position as a city welcoming inclusive and high-level sporting events.
Author's summary: Vilnius will host Europe's largest-ever wheelchair handball championship in 2025, pioneering a new format and advancing the sport's Paralympic inclusion.