International Abilympics 2027 to be held in Helsinki

This month, Skills Finland issued an invitation to all WorldSkills Member countries and regions to join them in Helsinki for the 11th International Abilympics. The competition will run for three days between 10 to 13 May 2027. It will showcase 43 different skills and is open to anyone aged 15 years or over with special needs or disabilities.

International Abilympics Helsinki 2027 is being organized by Skills Finland with the support of the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and in partnership with many of the country’s vocational education and training providers. Now in its eleventh edition, the competition continues to offer a global platform to those skilled individuals who require special support, raising awareness of their right to access employment and demonstrating the valuable contribution they make to today’s labour market.

Finland was selected to host the competition in October 2023 by the International Abilympic Federation (IAF). The country has been a long-time supporter of the event. It first took part in the competition in 2007 and also hosted the International Abilympics Conference in 2010.

The Abilympics movement goes back even further. The first International Abilympics was held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1981, founded on the belief that skills have no boundaries and that every person deserves the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. Since then, the competition has grown into a truly international event, with the IAF now representing more than 40 member countries.

As well as promising to be a “mega event” in inclusive skills, International Abilympics Helsinki 2027 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between WorldSkills and the IAF. The commitment was made when WorldSkills Competition and the International Abilympics were co-hosted in Shizuoka, Japan.

With exactly one year to go until International Abilympics Helsinki 2027, Skills Finland sent out a call for WorldSkills Members to take part. Registration for the competition opens in September 2026 and closes in November 2026. For those countries and regions not yet affiliated with the IAF, applying for membership is free and can be arranged through national IAF member organizations.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, celebrates the partnership between the two competitions, saying, “The bond between WorldSkills and the Abilympics reflects our shared belief that skills are for everyone. The Abilympics is an important opportunity for our Members to stand with the wider skills community and show that inclusion and excellence go hand in hand.”

The announcement of Abilympics Helsinki 2027 serves as a powerful reminder that the global stage for skills belongs to everyone. Learn more about International Abilympics Helsinki 2027, including how to register.