European Rugby Finals Weekends Head to Cardiff in 2025, Bilbao in 2026

Cardiff, Wales, will host the 2025 Finals Weekends for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, two of the biggest events for European Professional Club Rugby, while Bilbao, Spain, will host the 2026 Finals Weekends.

ECPR made the announcement after a bid process that says it received interest from 23 stadiums in 12 different countries around Europe.

“We are delighted today to confirm Cardiff and Bilbao as the host cities of the 2025 and 2026 EPCR Finals Weekend,” said EPCR Chairman Dominic McKay. “In returning to Cardiff 30 years on from the iconic first Final means a great to deal to us and our friends here in the city, and we will celebrate the milestone appropriately. We know this rugby heartland will not only be proud to host this historic weekend, but will welcome rugby fans from across the world to join us in Cardiff for our EPCR Finals Weekend in 2025.

Cardiff has a long connection with EPCR having staged high-profile Heineken Cup/Champions Cup deciders on seven previous occasions, the last being in 2014.

“We are thrilled that Principality Stadium has been chosen to host the ultimate competition in club rugby,” said Abi Tierney, Welsh Rugby Union Group chief executive officer. “It’s been 30 years since Cardiff hosted that first Final at Cardiff Arms Park and we embrace the opportunity to host the 2025 finals at Principality Stadium, in the year we celebrate 25 years of our magnificent stadium.”

The Welsh capital’s 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium will host the 30th edition of EPCR’s elite final since Stade Toulousain made history by defeating Cardiff after extra-time at the old National Ground in 1996, adjacent to the site of the Principality Stadium, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this season.

“Since it opened, events at the Principality Stadium have generated in the region of £2 billion in visitor spending and supported more than 50,000 full-time jobs locally — clear evidence that as well as making for a special atmosphere in the city, major events like this also deliver significant economic benefits,” Cardiff Council Leader Cllr Huw Thomas said. “Historically the EPCR always performs strongly for host cities in terms of visitor numbers and spend. In fact, the last time the tournament came to Cardiff it generated £24 million in direct economic impact just from a single Saturday match. Next year, with a whole weekend to enjoy, we would anticipate that being higher again.”

San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao will host in 2026. Home to Athletic Club de Bilbao, the 53,000-capacity stadium will host this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final and the 2025 UEFA Europa League final. Bilbao was a landmark choice in 2018 when the city staged the first EPCR finals weekend outside of rugby’s traditional six nations.

“For 2026, we cannot wait to return to Bilbao, which hosted a superb celebration of rugby in a world-class destination in 2018,” McKay said. “Our selection of host cities such as this reflects our intention to continually deliver outstanding experiences for fans, clubs and stakeholders for our marquee weekend. We know Bilbao will attract spectators from a varied demographic, bringing our sport to even more fans in a stunning host city.”