2027 Winter World University Games
Multi-sport event in Changchun, China
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2027 FISU Winter World University Games, also known as the 33rd Winter Universiade [a], is an upcoming winter multi-sport event for student and youth athletes, scheduled from 15 to 25 January 2027 in Changchun, Jilin, China. This will be the second time that the event will be held in China, after Harbin in 2009.[2][3][4]
(Chinese: 逐梦冰雪, 长驻青春)
| Host city | Changchun, China |
|---|---|
| Motto | Dreams Ignited, Youth United (Chinese: 逐梦冰雪, 长驻青春) |
| Events | 108 in 13 sports |
| Opening | 15 January 2027 |
| Closing | 25 January 2027 |
| Main venue | Northeast Asia International Expo Center[1] |
| Website | https://changchun2027.fisu.net/ |
Bidding process
The following cities and regions had all expressed an interest in hosting either the 2027 and 2029 Winter World University Games.[5]
Harbin, China[citation needed]
Erzurum, Turkey[citation needed]
Stockholm-Åre-Östersund, Sweden[citation needed]
French Alps, France[citation needed]
Almaty, Kazakhstan[citation needed]
Lillehammer, Norway[6]
Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia[7]
Zakopane, Poland[8]
On 12 November 2025, during a meeting of the FISU Executive Committee, it was announced that the organization had received only one formal bid project proposed by China Student Sports Federation to host the 2027 FISU World Winter University Games. It was not revealed which province or city was interested at that time, but rumors suggested it was Changchun, Beijing, or Harbin. Some days later, it was confirmed that the proposal came from Jilin province. At that meeting, the Executive Committee also authorized the FISU Steering Committee to proceed with the technical evaluation of the application. FISU did not disclose, at that time, any other formally submitted applications for the event, although there had been preliminary expressions of interest from other cities months earlier. Following the evaluation visit and authorized procedure, the Steering Committee confirmed the awarding of the 2027 edition to the city of Changchun on November 26, 2025.[9][10]
Development and preparations
Venues
Changchun
| Venue | Events | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Asia International Expo Center | Ceremonies | TBA | Existing |
| Nanguan Ice Arena | Ice hockey (women's) | 2,460 | |
| Jilin Speed Skating Oval | Speed skating | 2,146 | |
| Changchun Wuhuan Gymnasium | Figure skating | 10,488 | |
| Short track speed skating | |||
| Changchun Ice Arena | Curling | 225 | |
| Changchun Olympic Park Ice Arena | Ice hockey (men's) | 8,552 | |
| Jingyuetan Ski Resort | Cross-country skiing | TBA | |
| Lianhua Mountain Ski Resort | Freestyle skiing (aerials) | TBA | |
| Beihu Park | Biathlon | TBA | Temporary |
| Ski orienteering | |||
| Changchun World Sculpture Park | Cross-country running | TBA |
Jilin City
| Venue | Events | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beidahu | Alpine skiing | TBA | Existing |
| Freestyle skiing | TBA | ||
| Snowboarding | TBA | ||
| Songhua Lake Ski Resort | TBA | ||
| Ski mountaineering | TBA |
Promotion
On 15 January 2026, at 18:00, a one-year countdown event was held during the Changchun Siji Nanhe 'Powder Snow' Carnival.[11]
On 21 March 2026, a 300-day countdown event was held at Xinmin Avenue. The emblem, slogan and mascots were revealed at this event.[12]
Volunteers
On February 28, 2026, the volunteer recruitment for the Games was officially launched. It is expected that 8,000 volunteers will participate in providing service and support for the Games.[13]
The Games
Sports
A total of 108 medal events in 13 sports are scheduled for the Games, featuring the ten compulsory sports alongside two optional sports and a special status sport. The current compulsory sports of the Winter World University Games consist of ten disciplines: alpine skiing (including para alpine skiing), biathlon, cross-country skiing (including para cross-country skiing), curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, short track speed skating and snowboarding. This will be the first edition in which ski orienteering will be part of the mandatory program, after being an optional sport in the previous two editions. Furthermore, speed skating will return as an optional sport for the first time since 2023. Among the optional sports, the Chinese organisation chose to keep ski mountaineering, which had already been included in the program in 2025, and to include cross-country running, which appears as a second optional sport for the first time in the history of the Games..[14][15]
Alpine skiing (15) ()
Biathlon (11) ()- Cross-country running (5) ()
Cross-country skiing (13) ()
Curling (3) ()
Figure skating (4) ()
Freestyle skiing (9) ()
Ice hockey (2) ()
Short track speed skating (9) ()
Snowboarding (10) ()
Ski orienteering (7) ()
Ski mountaineering (7) ()
Speed skating (15) ()
Marketing
Emblem
The emblem of this Winter Universiade was created by a design team from the Jilin University of Arts. The design was led by the core members of the team responsible for 'Shuey Rhon Rhon,' the mascot of the 2022 Winter Paralympics. The group has also developed the visual identities and torch designs for the 2025 World Games, the 2025 Asian Winter Games, and recent editions of the National Winter Games of China, among other major national sporting events. The emblem is officially titled 'Chun Chang' (Eternal Spring). The design is based on the Chinese calligraphy 'Cursive Script' (Caoshu) for the character 'Chang' (长), seamlessly integrated with the 'U' element, as mandated by FISU. This composition reflects the regional characteristics of Changchun while conveying the sense of speed and the youthful vitality of ice and snow sports. The design also incorporates visual elements representative of the city’s identity, such as the rhythm of filmstrips (honouring Changchun's cinematic heritage) and the trajectories of winter sports. The overall silhouette forms an upturned smiling face, with a primary color palette of blue and white, accented by various vibrant colors to highlight the ice and snow theme and the spirit of youth. Semantically, the name 'Chun Chang' echoes the city's name ('Changchun') while symbolizing the hope for world peace and long-lasting prosperity."[16]
Mascots
"The mascots for this Winter Universiade are 'Ji Bing' and 'Ji Xue'.
'Ji Bing' is a Sika deer, whose antlers symbolise vitality and energy. The character wears blue and white attire to reflect an open and inclusive attitude, complemented by red elements that echo the historical and cultural traditions of Jilin. A snowflake pattern is incorporated to express the competitive nature of ice and snow sports.
'Ji Xue' features ginseng as its design core. Its clothing incorporates elements of Northeast China's traditional floral fabrics, showcasing the local lifestyle and folk customs. The blue and green scarf symbolises the Songhua River system, reflecting regional characteristics and a vision of development. Both mascots are presented as athletes, aiming to convey the vitality and enthusiasm of winter sports."[16]
Slogan
"The thematic slogan for this Winter Universiade is 'Dreams Ignited, Youth United'. The slogan aims to reflect Changchun's identity as both a 'City of Ice and Snow' and a 'Youthful City,' while providing a comprehensive expression of the event's atmosphere and core values."[16]
Notes
- The former name of the event, Universiade, is being used by the organising committee for these Games.