Belgium and France secure 2030 Womens European Handball Championship hosting rights

Belgium and France have been awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Women’s European Handball Championship, the French Handball Federation (FFHandball) announced on Saturday. The decision, confirmed by both the Belgian and French federations, marks a significant milestone for the sport in Europe and sets the stage for a major international tournament in four years.

The joint bid, unveiled on 13 June 2026, will see matches played across multiple venues in both countries, with the final selection of host cities still to be determined. The FFHandball statement described the announcement as “a historic moment for French and Belgian handball,” highlighting the shared ambition to deliver a tournament that showcases the best of the sport while promoting gender equality in elite competition.

Belgian media echoed the enthusiasm, with RTL reporting that the tournament would be co-organised under a unified framework, ensuring a balanced distribution of games between the two nations. The decision follows a competitive bidding process involving several European countries, though neither federation disclosed details of rival bids.

The 2030 Women’s EHF EURO will be the latest edition of Europe’s premier international handball competition for national teams, following previous tournaments held in Denmark and Norway in 2024. The event is expected to draw top athletes from across the continent, with France and Belgium already fielding competitive squads in recent years. The French women’s team, ranked among the continent’s elite, reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 tournament, while Belgium has steadily improved its standing under new coaching structures.

Handball officials in both countries have pledged to leverage the tournament as a platform for growing the sport’s profile, particularly among young women and girls. The FFHandball noted that the bid process had emphasised not only sporting excellence but also legacy projects, including youth development programmes and infrastructure investments. Belgian officials similarly highlighted plans to expand local handball academies and community engagement initiatives in the lead-up to 2030.

The announcement comes amid broader efforts across Europe to elevate women’s handball, with the European Handball Federation (EHF) having recently increased prize money and media coverage for the Women’s EHF EURO. The 2030 tournament is expected to benefit from these advancements, with organisers aiming to deliver a broadcast spectacle that rivals the men’s competition in reach and production quality.

While the exact venues and dates for the 2030 championship remain under discussion, the joint bid signals a commitment to collaboration between the two federations. Both countries have hosted major handball events in the past, including the 2018 Men’s EHF EURO in France and the 2022 Women’s EHF Champions League Final in Belgium. The 2030 tournament is poised to build on that legacy, offering a showcase for elite athletes and a catalyst for the sport’s growth in Western Europe.