Host
Every FISU World Forum offers a unique chance to experience a new culture, explore a region, and connect with a dynamic academic community.
Sweden
Discover a country where nature is always close, shaping culture, traditions, and everyday life. In Sweden, modern cities exists alongside forests, open landscapes, and more than 90,000 lakes. In the north of Sweden, the midnight sun brightens summer nights, while winter skies are lit by the northern lights.
Life in Sweden is often described through balance, between work and leisure, city and outdoor environments, tradition and innovation. A simple “fika” with coffee and cinnamon buns is just as much a part of daily life as leadership in sustainability, design, and technology.
From the capital Stockholm, built across 14 islands, to the northern regions and the many towns in between, Sweden is a country of contrasts. Its history stretches from Viking heritage and seasonal traditions such as Midsummer to modern innovation and creativity.
Sport and outdoor activity are woven into everyday life, making Sweden a natural place to meet around student sport, education and exchange. We look forward to welcoming you to the FISU World Forum 2026.
Östersund
Östersund is a city in northern Sweden where daily life takes place close to lakes, forests, and mountains. The city centre is compact and active, with short distances between meeting places, cultural venues, and outdoor environments.
In summer, you can move easily between the city and the surrounding landscape. Walking through the centre, kayaking on nearby lakes, cycling along forest roads, or taking day trips to the mountains.
Östersund is located in Saepmie, the traditional homeland of the Sámi people, the Indigenous people of northern Europe. Known as Staare in Sámi, Östersund has long been a regional meeting place.
The city has a long tradition of hosting international sports events, including the Biathlon World Cup and the Ski World Cup, and regularly welcomes people from around the world.
Cultural experiences are right in the city centre. At Jamtli Museum and the Nationalmuseum, you can explore regional history and contemporary perspectives. Östersund is also a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, reflecting a strong local food culture based on regional ingredients and small-scale production.
With Lake Storsjön and the surrounding mountains as a constant presence, Östersund offers a setting where sport, education, and cultural exchange can take place side by side.
Mid Sweden University – Campus Östersund
Campus Östersund at Mid Sweden University will be the venue for the FISU World Forum 2026. Once the site of a military regiment, the area has been transformed into a modern and vibrant university campus where education, research, and innovation meet.
Several leading research centres are based here, including ETOUR (European Tourism Research Institute), the National Winter Sports Centre (NVC), the Sports Tech Research Centre, and the Risk and Crisis Research Centre. Together, they contribute to new knowledge in tourism, sports science, technology, and sustainable development.
Mid Sweden University encourages students to combine academic studies with sporting ambitions and supports an active lifestyle where education and personal growth go hand in hand.
Swedish University Sport
Alongside competitive representation, SAIF actively contributes to the broader development of university sport by engaging in international dialogue, knowledge exchange, and leadership development initiatives.
Through these activities, Swedish student sport remains an active part of the evolving international university sport landscape, promoting collaboration between sport, higher education, and student leadership.
The Swedish University Sports Federation (SAIF) coordinates Sweden’s international university sport engagement and is responsible for the country’s representation within the global student sport movement. Through SAIF, Sweden takes part in the governance, development, and competition structures of international university sport, contributing both athletes and student leaders to the wider FISU community.
SAIF oversees the organisation of Swedish delegations to major international student sport competitions, including the FISU World University Games and FISU World University Championships. In addition to supporting athlete participation, SAIF works closely with universities, student sports clubs, and national sport federations to identify and prepare student-athletes for international competition while ensuring that participation remains connected to academic life.
