European Leagues and its member leagues to unite for the Europe Day 2026 campaign seeking to promote EU values and reaffirm their commitment to the European Sport Model.
European Leagues, together with its EU based member leagues, will participate in the Europe Day 2026 campaign taking place during the weekend of 9-10 May 2026.
This coordinated initiative will bring together domestic professional football leagues from across the EU who will use the occasion to proudly showcase the European Union’s values and symbols, and highlight the principles underpinning the European Sport Model, including inclusion, diversity, solidarity, and social cohesion.
Participating leagues will implement dedicated matchday and communication activations, providing visibility of EU symbols in stadium and across broadcasts and digital platforms. This campaign is taking place at a pivotal moment for European sport, with the European Sport Model and its core principles facing increasing challenges. This campaign offers an opportunity to reaffirm the strong and collective commitment of European Leagues and its members to uphold and promote these values which have been critical in shaping football’s development and will be essential in securing its sustainable future.
Through this collective effort, European domestic football highlights its pivotal role as an engaged social and cultural force by bringing communities together and contributing to the promotion of shared European values both on and off the pitch.
The 2026 campaign builds on the success of previous initiatives, notably the 2025 edition, which demonstrated the strong visibility and impact that domestic football can generate at both national and international level.
European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef said: “A year ago, I stood in front of European Leagues with an idea: bring Europe Day into stadiums across every league. What followed was months of work behind the scenes: letters, conversations and real partnership. Last year, it started with one match. This year, it will be stadiums across our continent. Proud of what we can achieve when sport brings our values to life. Thank you to everyone who helped turn this into reality.”
Commenting on the campaign, European Leagues President Claudius Schäfer added: “I’m immensely proud to lead an organisation whose members take seriously their role in supporting ideals such as those that define the EU. The spirit and values that characterise football align with those of the EU which has sought to create a continent where meritocracy, respect and a sense of togetherness and harmony can prosper. Through the visibility football affords we seek to support the EU in reminding its citizens that these are the values that define its political project and on which Europe’s future depends”.
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