International boccia makes its return to the United States June 17-23 when Lakeshore Foundation hosts the Birmingham 2026 World Boccia Challenger. Opening ceremony is the 17th and competition begins on the 18th.
Thirteen countries will be represented in the first international boccia competition on U.S. soil since 2017, including perennial heavy-hitters like South Korea, Brazil and Mexico.
The Birmingham 2026 World Boccia Challenger event will bring together elite athletes from around the globe and will mark the first time since 2017 that the United States has hosted a world event for Boccia. The event is one of 11 scheduled for 2026 and will provide a critical opportunity for competitors to earn ranking points toward qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
The competition places Birmingham alongside other major cities such as Ryad, Saudi Arabia, Montreal, Canada and Seoul, South Korea hosting Boccia competitions in 2026.