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Naples Sets 2026 Sports Program as European Capital, Linking Events to Legacy Upgrades

Officials say the program turns headline events into lasting upgrades across facilities, access, youth sport.

Overview

  • City leaders confirmed key 2026 dates, including the Men’s European Volleyball Championship opener in Piazza del Plebiscito on 11 September and an America’s Cup preregatta in June as a test for the 2027 edition.
  • The administration outlined investments using municipal, PNRR and European funds to modernize venues, with projects such as a new polifunctional center in Piscinola, the Parco dello Sport in Bagnoli and the 10,000‑seat AreNapoli arena near the Centro Direzionale.
  • Facility work includes refurbishing long‑closed pools in Ponticelli and Scampia, recovering pools in Corso Secondigliano and Barra, upgrading school gyms citywide and removing architectural barriers with a focus on energy efficiency.
  • A modernization plan for Stadio Maradona has been approved to improve functionality and safety, with the mayor aiming to position the venue for a potential Euro 2032 candidacy rather than pursuing a new stadium.
  • Officials emphasized sport as a tool for inclusion, expanding programs for people with disabilities and vulnerable youth and adopting a new rule to keep school gyms open in the afternoons, as the city also marks SSC Napoli’s centenary in 2026.