It has now been confirmed that the European Cheerleading Championship will take place in Helsingborg in 2027. The decision was made at the recent European Cheerleading Conference in February. The event will be organized by the Swedish Cheerleading Federation and the city of Helsingborg, with Visit Skåne as a partner for the event. The last time Sweden hosted the European Cheerleading Championship was 14 years ago, and now the elite of European cheerleading will return to Sweden.
– “It’s exciting to have such high-level competition and to be able to showcase that level of cheerleading on home turf – it’s going to be amazing,” says athlete Sandra Karström, who won “European Athlete of the Year” at the 2024 European Cheerleading Championship.
European Cheerleading Championship
The European Cheerleading Championship is organized for the 38 countries that are part of the European Cheerleading Federation. The championship is held annually and rotates between host countries. In 2024, Norway hosted a record-breaking European Cheerleading Championship with nearly 4,000 participants. Next, the European Cheerleading Championship will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 2025, and in Prague, Czech Republic, in 2026, before Sweden takes the baton in 2027.
The last time the European Cheerleading Championship was held in Sweden was in 2009 in Nyköping, and before that, in 2004 at Hovet in Stockholm.
– After having just organized record-breaking Nordic Cheerleading Championship and been awarded the FISU World University Championships Cheerleading together with Swedish University Sports Federation, it is incredibly satisfying to once again take on the role of an innovative host for sustainable championships with the European Cheerleading Championship. We believe we can make a lasting impact in sports with the social projects we are planning, particularly in the area of safeguarding, says Katarina Eriksson, Secretary General of the Swedish Cheerleading Federation.
– We are happy to go to Sweden in 2027! There has been great development in Swedish cheerleading in the last years, and I am confident that Sweden will organize an amazing event. We all are looking forward to seeing everyone in Sweden in 2027, says Aljaž Britvič, president of the European Cheerleading Federation.
Helsingborg: Cheerleading City Wins Another Championship
Helsingborg is known for its strong sports culture, and cheerleading, which has been growing rapidly, has taken an increasingly prominent place in recent years. From 2024–2027, the Swedish Cheerleading Championship and the southern regional championships will be held in Helsingborg. The Swedish Cheerleading Federation also organized the Nordic Cheerleading Championships in Helsingborg in February 2025, which attracted over 3,300 participants to the city.
– We are extremely proud and excited to be the host city for this fantastic event. We have had a long-standing and fruitful partnership with the Swedish Cheerleading Federation, and this feels like a wonderful way to crown that collaboration, says Henrik Gidlund, Head of the Helsingborg Convention & Event Bureau. – We hope to create lasting values by once again highlighting and showcasing female athletes on an international stage in Skåne. Cheerleading is a major participation sport and one of the fastest-growing sports in Sweden, with a fantastic tourism economy. We are pleased that the federation recognizes the power and capability in Skåne to host such an event, says Max Granström, CEO of Visit Skåne.
What This Means for Swedish Cheerleading
Cheerleading is one of the newest members of the Swedish Sports Federation, having been voted in as an independent federation in 2019. The same year, Sweden won the Junior World Championship, defeating world-leading nations like the USA and Finland. By hosting the European Cheerleading Championship, Sweden and the Swedish Cheerleading Federation aim to strengthen their position as a leading nation in cheerleading, while also offering the sport the opportunity to continue growing both nationally and internationally.
Sandra Karström is a member of the GCO Wildcats in Gothenburg and the Swedish Women’s National Team. She was named ”European Athlete of the Year” at the 2024 European Cheerleading Championship.
Sandra’s reaction to the news about the European Cheerleading Championship:
– Wow! This is so exciting, such a huge deal, and it’s amazing that it’s happening in Sweden.
She continues:
– Competing at such a big event on home turf is going to be so much fun, and it will bring even more support from family and friends. It’s exciting to have intense competition at the highest level and to showcase that level of cheerleading at home – it’s going to be so cool!
