In twelve months’ time, a new generation of Team England athletes will take to the international stage at the Commonwealth Youth Games. For many, it will be their first experience of a major multi-sport games, following in the footsteps of athletes who used the Games as a springboard to Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic success.
From 29th October to 4th November 2027, more than 1,100 athletes aged 14-18 from across the Commonwealth's 74 nations and territories will come together for six days of competition. Hosted across the islands of Malta and Gozo, the Games will showcase eight sports in a compact and sustainable model designed to bring athletes from across the Commonwealth together.
The sport programme will feature eight sports: Athletics and Para Athletics, Netball, Sailing, Squash, Swimming and Para Swimming, Triathlon, Water Polo and Weightlifting.
Malta 2027 will feature the largest Para sport programme in Commonwealth Youth Games history. Para Swimming will make its debut alongside Para Athletics, which was introduced at Trinidad and Tobago 2023, marking the first time Para sport was included in the Games. Together, they reflect the event's continued commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes across the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Youth Games has long been a launchpad for future sporting success, providing young athletes with the opportunity to compete against the best in the Commonwealth, experience life in a multi-sport team and discover what is possible at the highest level.
For many of Team England's most successful athletes, the Commonwealth Youth Games provided their first experience of representing England on the international stage. Commonwealth Bronze Medallist Maddie Down began her international journeys at the Games, highlighting the important role the event continues to play in the athlete pathway.
“I had a brilliant time at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago and was so proud to win Team England’s first ever para-Gold Medal. I met and tested myself against the best young athletes from all over the world and made my international debut for Team England! It was awesome!”
Maddie’s journeys demonstrate the importance of opportunities like the Commonwealth Youth Games, giving young athletes the chance to test themselves in a high-performance environment while learning what it means to be part of Team England.
With one year to go, the countdown to Malta 2027 has well and truly begun. Following a successful summer at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Team England's focus now turns to the next generation of athletes who will earn the chance to represent their country and take their first steps on the international stage.
