Think of it as the ultimate warm-up for future champions.

Malta has officially been announced as the host of the 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The eighth edition of the event will see over 1,000 young competitors between the ages of 14-18 competing across eight sports and with venues in four main clusters across the islands of Malta and Gozo.

With the news hot off the press, Chef de Mission for Glasgow 2026, Frankie Carter-Kelly talks us through the announcement.

The Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) are back in 2027, and it’s now been announced they’ll be in Malta.

The past few editions of the Games have been across the world, so 2027 brings them closer to home, with the promise to be bolder than ever, and packed with potential for both athletes and fans.

Think of it as the ultimate warm-up for future champions. The CYG gives young athletes a taste of what it’s like to wear the Team England kit, compete across multiple sports, and experience life at a major, international sporting event.

We’ve seen some incredible stars emerge from previous Youth Games, including Phoebe Gill and Maddie Down who competed for Team England in 2023. Just 12 months later, they earned a spot in their first Olympic and Paralympic Games.

They're following in the footsteps of legends like Dina Asher-Smith who also represented Team England at a CYG.

Beyond the search for medals, the CYG helps to train young athletes how to perform under pressure, embrace a team environment, and represent their country.

The Malta 2027 Sport Programme will feature eight sports, with Sailing and Water Polo making their debut at a CYG, alongside Athletics and Para Athletics, Netball, Squash, Swimming and Para Swimming, Triathlon, and Weightlifting.

With the largest para-sport programme at a CYG and the first Games since the Isle of Man 2011 to sit within a UK time zone, Carter-Kelly also welcomes Malta as the host for its greater accessibility.

Any major event that’s closer to home provides the opportunity for more fans to attend, and for family to more easily support.

It helps that Malta is also know for its stunning coastline and Mediterranean climate, which will make it a popular destination for fans. It’ll also make for an incredible backdrop for the introduction of Sailing and Water Polo, both of which haven’t been seen at a Youth Games before.

Team England is delighted to see Netball returning in its full traditional format. With such a strong pathway, it’s a sport we’re confident we’ll do well in.

We also welcome the move to be an even more inclusive Games as para swimming joins the programme for first time, expanding opportunities and building on the Commonwealth’s legacy of inclusion that is so important to us.

For now, we’ll be working closely with our National Governing Body partners to best support their preparation for 2027, planning to create a performance environment for Team England to thrive in when we touch down in Malta.

The CYG are always a firm favourite of mine. They give an initial taster of the values and culture of Team England, I love seeing the excitement in the eyes of the young athletes, and the learning experiences for the action both on and off the field of play are invaluable.

I’m looking forward to seeing the team in action and we wish the Malta CGA all the best with their preparations.

With the Glasgow Commonwealth Games now less than a year away in 2026, and now Malta on the horizon for 2027, follow Team England for all the latest news, team announcements and more!