27.07.2026
Jyväskylä to host the 2028 European Junior Table Tennis Championships
The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) has selected Jyväskylä as the host city for the 2028 European Junior Table Tennis Championships. The union’s Executive Board made the decision in July. Around 550 of the continent’s leading junior players from more than 40 countries will gather at the new Hippos Arena in July 2028, marking the first time the championships are held in Finland.
The competition will run for 10 days, with champions crowned in singles, doubles, and team events. A strong Finnish contingent will be among those taking part.
According to Mika Pyykkö, the President of the Finnish Table Tennis Association, it is the most significant table tennis event ever staged in Finland in the association’s 90-year history.
“More than a million children and young people compete in table tennis across Europe. Now we’re welcoming the best of them – the under-19s and under-15s – to Finland. We hope that the championships and the preparations for them will increase awareness of the sport and boost the number of players here in Finland as well. Thank you to the City of Jyväskylä for its tremendous support, starting with the bid process for the European Championships!” says Mika Pyykkö.
For the ETTU, Jyväskylä’s bid stood out in a competitive field. President Pedro Moura welcomed the first European Junior Championships to be held in Finland.
“The decision on the host city wasn’t easy. However, Jyväskylä stood out from the crowd with its magnificent Hippos Arena and its otherwise strong bid,” says Pedro Moura.
For Jyväskylä, the championships mark the first international competition at the new Hippos venue and a further step in the city’s ambition to keep attracting international events to its evolving sports facilities.
Picture: Manfred Schilings / ETTU