Abu Dhabi to Host Games of the Future 2025

Abu Dhabi has been confirmed as the host for the Games of the Future 2025, taking place December 18–23 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.

The event will feature a range of disciplines, including “phygital” football and phygital shooter, as well as tech sports and esports. Each discipline sees athletes first compete in a digital version of their sport, followed by the same sport in real life, with the final results determined by combining both stages.

The Games welcome hundreds of athletes and thousands of fans from around the world. The inaugural edition of the Games took place in the Russian city of Kazan last year, while Kazakhstan will host the 2026 event.

Aspire, the innovation arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council, will lead the event’s agenda and coordinate with stakeholders. Ethara, the region’s live event management company, will serve as the event’s official operations partner.

“Abu Dhabi is the perfect home for this year’s Games — visionary, ambitious, and ready to lead phygital sport into the future. We cannot be more excited for December, when we’ll get to experience a spectacle of phygital excellence against a stunning backdrop,” said Nis Hatt, chief executive officer of Phygital International.

The Games will also feature virtual reality immersive fan engagement zones, cultural activations and technology showcases.