British Gymnastics has today been awarded the right to host the gymnastics 2030 Artistic World Championship in Liverpool, bringing one of the world’s biggest sporting events back to the UK and creating a platform for gymnastics to further contribute to happier, healthier lives.
The gymnastics 2030 Artistic World Championship will represent one of the biggest global sporting events to be staged in the UK that year, further strengthening the UK’s reputation as one of the leading nations in world gymnastics.
The championships will take place at the M&S Bank Arena on the Liverpool Experience Campus, in the heart of Liverpool, and will welcome over 400 of the world’s best gymnasts from 80 countries to compete on British soil in front of packed crowds and a global television audience spanning more than 50 countries. The event will also be the first opportunity to qualify for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
The successful bid was delivered by British Gymnastics, UK Sport and Liverpool City Council, supported by Liverpool Experience Campus, operators of the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool Accommodation BID.
Liverpool has firmly established itself as the home of major gymnastics events in the UK, having successfully hosted the gymnastics 2022 Artistic World Championships as well as every Artistic Gymnastics British Championships since 2011.
The event offers an opportunity to continue building on the huge success of the gymnastics 2022 World Artistic Championships in Liverpool, widely regarded by gymnasts and fans alike as one of the best championships ever staged. It will form a central pillar of British Gymnastics’ ambition to drive a positive impact through gymnastics, ensuring the benefits are felt far beyond the competition arena, helping to support happier, healthier lives.
Since hosting the 2022 championships, Liverpool continues to benefit from the competition’s legacy, shaping a stronger, more inclusive gymnastics community throughout the city.
More than £17,400 has been invested across seven delivery partners – training 16 new instructors, qualifying nine new club‑level coaches, and creating a clear participant‑to‑coach employment pathway for young people.
Gymnastics participation has also surged, with City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club alone delivering 520 additional weekly places, totalling nearly 25,000 annual participant visits. Infrastructure upgrades – including new equipment and expanded coaching capacity – have strengthened four clubs, while community programmes now engage an additional 100 to 200 children weekly across the city.
Our shared vision is to deliver an exceptional sporting platform that celebrates the diversity of gymnastics, inspires a new generation of fans and gymnasts, and builds on the legacy of 2022 for communities across the nation. We want to bring the world of gymnastics together through a truly inclusive and accessible event, while inspiring and engaging young people through clubs, schools and leisure centres nationwide.
Gymnastics is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of young people every year, helping develop strength, balance and coordination alongside important life skills including resilience, teamwork and self-expression. As one of the leading sports for females, hosting the championships in 2030 will provide a unique opportunity to elevate women’s sport further and encourage more women and girls to lead active and healthy lives.
The event is also expected to deliver significant economic and social impact. A feasibility study conducted as part of the bid projected that hosting the championships could generate more than £8 million for the regional economy, alongside substantial additional social value and tourism benefits.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing the gymnastics World Artistic Championships to Liverpool once again in what will be one of the biggest global sporting events to be held in the UK that year.
“The gymnastics World Artistic Championships 2022 was, as always, a fine example of how we do world-class events in this city and it yet again showcased our unique ability to blend elite sport with culture and community.
“The event welcomed over 35,000 spectators from around the world and brought £5.6 million to our local economy, leaving a lasting impact long after the competition ended.
“Hosting the event again in 2030 provides a fantastic opportunity to build on this legacy, as well as to inspire and engage the next generation to lead healthier, happier lives through gymnastics.”
British Gymnastics, CEO, Sarah Powell, said: “Everyone at British Gymnastics is delighted, and immensely proud, that Liverpool has been selected by World Gymnastics to host the gymnastics 2030 Artistic World Championship. Bringing the world’s best gymnasts back to the city will create an incredible atmosphere for gymnasts, fans and communities alike, while allowing us to support our British stars on home soil and inspire the next generation up close.
“Gymnastics has a unique power to bring people together, shape lives, and enrich and connect communities. We know from previous major events in Liverpool the lasting impact the sport can have, and we hope hosting the Championships once again will leave a meaningful legacy across the city and throughout the UK, ensuring the benefits of gymnastics are felt far beyond the competition arena, helping to support happier, healthier lives.”
Esther Britten, Head of Events and External Affairs at UK Sport, said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for gymnastics in the UK. Bringing the World Artistic Championships back to Liverpool reflects the strength of the sport across the country, as well as the UK’s proven ability to deliver world-class sporting events that create unforgettable experiences for athletes, fans and local communities.
“We saw firsthand in 2022 the incredible impact an event like this can have, from packed arenas and a brilliant atmosphere to inspiring young people to try gymnastics for the first time. We’re proud to be part of bringing the championships back to Liverpool in 2030 and to build on that success on an even bigger scale.”
World Gymnastics President, Morinari Watanabe, said: “It will be a pleasure to return to Liverpool for the 2030 Artistic World Championships. The city holds so many fond memories from previous editions and has a long history of hosting exceptional events. Its passion and the incredible support of the fans make it a special place for us. A key centre of the Industrial Revolution, Liverpool has long been linked to progress. In the same spirit, I hope the 2030 World Championships will bring fresh energy to gymnastics.”
Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool Business Improvement District, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support major sporting events like this through the ABID and overnight levy. We’ve seen with other sporting events, like the World Boxing Championships, that it gives a boost to our hospitality sector and drives our key metric of overnight stays, helping to create circular and sustainable visitor economy. This will be a great event to showcase Liverpool to new visitors.”
Ben Williams, Commercial Director of Liverpool Experience Campus, said: “We’re delighted to see this flagship event return to the M&S Bank Arena and to Liverpool. The city continues to grow as a world‑class destination for culture, entertainment and major sporting events, and we’re proud to play our part in that story.
“Our venue was built to bring major events like this to the city and it thrives when it’s on the global stage. As the home of British Gymnastics, we can’t wait to welcome athletes and spectators again.”
Olympian and 2022 Floor World Champion, Jessica Gadirova, said: “Bringing the World Championships back to Liverpool is amazing news. The 2022 Championships were incredible for me personally, for the British teams and for gymnastics. Liverpool feels like home for the GB team, and the support of that home crowd was the most inspiring and motivational environment I’ve ever competed in.
“To now have another opportunity for the world-wide gymnastics community to come together on such a huge scale again in Liverpool is hugely exciting for everyone who loves our sport. The impact a World Championships has on uniting everyone and inspiring the next generation is massive, it’s going to be an incredible event.”
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