The five-day championship, scheduled for November 26-30, 2025, represents the largest wheelchair handball event ever held in Europe. Nine national teams will compete: France, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Norway, and host nation Lithuania, making its continental debut. The top two teams will qualify for the 2026 Wheelchair Handball World Championship in India.

The championship will introduce an innovative 4×4 competition format, designed to advance wheelchair handball’s development and support its bid for inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games. This format represents a significant evolution in the sport’s competitive structure.

Vilnius as Host City

The event showcases Vilnius’s capabilities as a modern event destination. “From modern venues and seamless logistics to a welcoming atmosphere and compact layout, the city offers everything organisers need for an exceptional event experience,” states Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, Director of Go Vilnius. The championship will serve as a platform for inclusive tourism and sports diplomacy.

Lithuanian Handball Federation General Secretary Žilvinas Galimovas emphasizes the event’s significance: “It’s the first time Lithuania will welcome such a high-level international wheelchair handball event. The championship will promote inclusion and equal opportunities in sport while inspiring new athletes and fans across the country.” The event aims to celebrate resilience, innovation, and inclusion while demonstrating Lithuania’s growing capacity to host major international sporting events.