Invictus Games

Heading for South Korea: Daejeon announced as first Asian host city of Invictus Games for 2029

20th July 2026 at 2:28pm

Daejeon in South Korea has been announced as the host of the 2029 Invictus Games, marking the first time an Asian city has won the race.

After Birmingham in 2027, officials and competitors will pack their bags for the far east with the Games planned for 6–15 October 2029.

Five other cities were considered, including Aalborg in Denmark and San Diego in the United States, but it was the Korean bid that was announced as the winner and will pick up the Invictus Games flag in the United Kingdom as part of the Birmingham 2027 Closing Ceremony.

Korea's first appearance at the Invictus Games came at The Hague, Netherlands, which was delayed from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Na Hyeongyoon competed at those Games and became a star of the Heart of Invictus show on Netflix. He believes Korea is the right next step for the Games.

He said: "I have always believed that the greatest barrier is not disability itself, but the way society perceives it. Through the Invictus Games, I have seen that those perceptions can change. Now, in 2029, it will be Korea’s turn to lead that change."

The chair of the Invictus Games Foundation, Lord Charles Allen, said: "Today's announcement is a defining moment for the Invictus Movement. We are delighted to announce Daejeon as the preferred host of the Invictus Games 2029 and we look forward to working together.

"As the first Asian nation selected to host the Games, the Republic of Korea represents an exciting new chapter in our journey to ensure that more wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, wherever they live, can benefit from the power of sport and the strength of the Invictus community.

"We were deeply impressed by Daejeon's vision, the commitment of its partners and the ambition to create a lasting legacy that extends far beyond the closing ceremony.

"Together, we have an opportunity to inspire millions, challenge perceptions of disability and military service, and demonstrate that recovery is possible through connection, purpose and sport."

The selection is subject to the successful completion of the Event Hosting Agreement between the Invictus Games Foundation and the Daejeon 2029 organising team.