The Federation of International Touch (FIT) and England Touch Association (ETA) have today confirmed that the 2026 European Youth Touch Championships (EYTC) will be hosted at the University of Warwick between Thursday 13th and Sunday 16th August.
Located on the outskirts of the city of Coventry, the University will welcome an expected 45 teams from countries across Europe and further afield.
In recent years the ETA has proven its ability to host groundbreaking international Touch events, including multiple European Touch Championships, the inaugural Atlantic Youth Touch Cup, and the largest Touch World Cup in the history of the sport.
2026 represents new ground for both the ETA and FIT, as it will be the first time that an event such as this has been hosted in the West Midlands. It therefore represents an outstanding opportunity for the national governing body for Touch in England to focus on growth and development in and around Coventry and Warwickshire.
ETA Chief Executive, Vince Mayne said:
"It is exciting to be taking the European Youth Touch Championships to the University of Warwick, on the outskirts of Coventry. FIT did an extensive search for venues, and we have no doubt that Warwick University will be superb hosts.
"We have also seen the spike in interest in Touch that has accompanied the major tournaments in Nottingham, and hopefully we will have something similar in Coventry and the surrounding area.
"Local club, Warwick Knights, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Midlands Ladies Touch League is the largest competition of its kind in the country, and the Junior Touch Cup in Leamington provides an opportunity for youth club teams to compete. We are also actively supporting more Touch in schools. These are strong foundations, and we are looking forward to the future."
Touch has become a large part of the university sport scene in recent years - both in the hosting of events, but also in the establishment of clubs with the sport now recognised in the British University Colleges and Sports (BUCS) programme.
It is hoped that one of the legacies of the EYTC will be an established Touch club at The University of Warwick, which will complement the wide range of sports available to the student population.
Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Warwick, said:
"We're thrilled to host an international tournament that ignites the passion of so many young athletes. At Warwick, we're all about growth, supporting young people, and promoting global exchange. As a University at the heart of our region, we're proud to lead our community in celebrating the power of sport to unite and inspire. This event gives us the chance to bring together incredible talent from around the world for an unforgettable competition."
Mark Hyndman, Director of Sport & Active Lifestyles, University of Warwick said: "We are excited by the prospect of welcoming over 3,000 players, coaches, managers, physios and supporters to our world class sporting facilities in August 2026. The Championships provides a unique opportunity to collaborate and establish lasting partnerships with the Federation of International Touch, and England Touch.
"With over 12,000 University of Warwick students engaged in either sport or active wellness over the last year, we have seen the impact that sport, competition and movement can have on the lives of young people. By welcoming under 15s, under 18s and under 20s age groups representing countries across Europe, we will be helping to showcase Touch as an inclusive, accessible and adaptable sport to leave a lasting legacy within our student community, inspiring the next generation."
The last European Youth Touch event took place in Vichy, France in 2024 attracting 30 teams. Meanwhile the Atlantic Youth Touch Cup in Limerick earlier this year brought 45 teams across nine categories of competition, including a new Girls 15s Test series between England and Wales.
FIT also welcomed new Youth teams from Portugal and Ukraine for the first time, and it is hoped that they will be among the anticipated 12 nations who will be represented at the University of Warwick.
The demand for youth competition continues to grow with more nations affiliating to FIT and existing nations prioritising participation in junior competition.
FIT Chief Operations Officer, Chris Simon said:
"Following an extensive search for appropriate university-style venues, FIT is delighted that England Touch and the University of Warwick will be hosting this event. We have no doubt the partnership between the three of us will deliver a fantastic event for all involved as we continue the provision of high-quality youth events that have taken place in Nottingham, Vichy and Limerick over the last three years.
"The return of international competition to England also enables us to reignite the strategy that started at last year's Touch World Cup in Nottingham - one that showcased the sport to a wider audience across the world and delivered a significant financial and social impact locally. We are excited about what 2026 might hold and would like to thank England Touch and the University of Warwick for their support for the development of youth touch."
Entries for the event are expected to go live in early 2026. Details of how to enter and the Conditions of Entry will be sent to National Touch Organisations directly.
