London, UK 18^th December – The Invictus Games Foundation (IGF) today announced that Aalborg (Denmark), Daejeon (Republic of Korea) and San Diego (United States of America) have been shortlisted as candidate host cities for the Invictus Games 2029.

After an unprecedented six bids, shortlisting followed a rigorous assessment process reviewing vision and legacy, operational and sporting delivery, accessibility and sustainability, governance, financial robustness, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to the long-term evolution of the Invictus Movement. The successful host city for the Invictus Games 2029 will be announced in Summer 2026, following a series of IGF site visits and assessments with each shortlisted bid.

Each of the shortlisted cities demonstrated compelling alignment with the Invictus Games’ core purpose of supporting the recovery and rehabilitation of international wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, while also presenting credible plans to extend impact beyond the Games themselves.

Rob Owen OBE, Chief Executive of the Invictus Games Foundation, said:

“The quality, ambition and heart shown across all the bids for the Invictus Games 2029 has been truly inspiring. An unprecedented number of applications show a strong foundation for the future of the Invictus Games, and a collective belief in the power of the Invictus Movement. Aalborg, Daejeon and San Diego each demonstrated not only the ability to deliver outstanding Games, but also a deep understanding of how Invictus can catalyse lasting systemic change for individuals, communities and societies.

We are equally grateful to Italy, Nigeria and Ukraine for the extraordinary commitment behind their proposals. These were all fantastic bids, the decision was not easy, and so our relationship with each country will continue. Through initiatives such as Nigeria’s Armed Forces Invictus Centre and the Signature Programme for Ukraine, we remain focused on growing the Invictus Movement and extending its impact well beyond a single host city.

We now look forward to the next phase of assessment and collaboration as we work together to determine the best home for Invictus Games 2029.”

Shortlisted bids

Aalborg, Denmark impressed the Invictus Games Foundation’s board of trustees with a bid rooted in respect for the military community and Denmark’s established leadership in sports rehabilitation, particularly in respect of mental health. Drawing on nationally recognised initiatives that use sport to support reintegration into civilian life, Aalborg set out a clear commitment to sharing best practice across the international Invictus Community. Its compact city model, extensive experience in hosting major multi-sport events, and sustainability credentials demonstrated both operational credibility and long-term legacy ambition.

Daejeon, Republic of Korea presented a vision centred on the legacy of being the first Invictus Games to be held in Asia. The bid articulated a strong intention to establish an Invictus footprint post-Games, supporting both domestic rehabilitation needs and the growth of the Movement across the region. With venues making use of existing infrastructure and operating close to each other, Daejeon showed how innovation and regional reach could be delivered together.

San Diego, USA highlighted its identity as a global military community and gateway city connecting North America, Latin America and the Pacific Rim. Its proposal placed competitors and their families at the heart of the Games experience.  With a coherent venue plan and a strong commercial vision, the bid demonstrated a clear ambition for building an enduring legacy in support of the Invictus Movement.

Recognition of Outstanding Bids

The Invictus Games Foundation also paid tribute to the exceptional quality and commitment shown by the bids from Italy, Nigeria and Ukraine, each providing very credible concepts with clear potential for further development and future delivery.

The Foundation will also continue to work with all bidding nations to develop alternative opportunities for sports recovery and rehabilitation, ensuring that the momentum, commitment and investment demonstrated through this process continue to benefit wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans worldwide.

This includes providing more adaptive Winter sports for recovery; working closely with Nigeria’s new Armed Forces Invictus Centre in Abuja, due to open next year to advance sports recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration across Africa; and supporting Ukraine through our Signature Programme, supporting recovery, rehabilitation and international collaboration with partnership, research and grant-funding.

ENDS

Media Enquiries to Sam Newell: me***@***********es.org