More than a hundred students from ten european universities will gather next week in santander to participate in the eunice alliance games 2026, an international sports event organised by the university of cantabria (UC) as part of the european university alliance, EUNICE.
From 19 to 22 october, participants will compete in 3x3 basketball and 4x4 volleyball tournaments, while also engaging in cultural and social activities aimed at fostering exchange among students from different countries. The fifth edition of this initiative will kick off on monday, 19 october, at the campos de sport de el sardinero, featuring a welcome day that includes a talk on sportsmanship and the values of sport, followed by a guided tour of the stadium.
This initial gathering will bring together the participating delegations and highlight principles such as respect, fair play, cooperation, and teamwork, which are foundational to the alliance games. The sports competition will take place from 20 to 22 october at the UC sports centre, located on the campus of las llamas, where teams from the universities within EUNICE will compete in both sports.
Beyond the competitive results, the alliance games aim to strengthen connections among students from the alliance universities and promote a shared international experience through sport. The programme also includes social and cultural activities that will allow participants to explore santander and various aspects of cantabria.
The celebration of the alliance games will extend to the entire university community, who will be able to visit the UC sports centre to watch the matches, cheer for their teams, and participate in parallel activities organised by the sports service. Attendees will also have the chance to test their sporting skills and win prizes through various challenges that will take place on the court during the competition days.
On wednesday, 21 october, shooting tests will be held from 10:00 to 14:00, followed by mushroom picking from 16:00 to 20:00. On thursday, 22 october, participants can take part in a 500-metre rowing challenge from 10:00 to 14:00, and a combined jump event from 16:00 to 20:00. These activities aim to encourage participation from the entire university community and turn the alliance games into a celebration of sport beyond international competition.
The decisive matches of the tournament will take place on thursday, 22 october, including the games for third and fourth place. The volleyball final is scheduled for 10:00, followed by the basketball final at 12:00. The day will conclude at 13:00 with the award ceremony for the participating teams.
Additionally, in conjunction with this sports week, the university of cantabria, through EUNICE, has launched an initiative to encourage university community participation in the carrera popular de el diario montañés, which will be held on 25 october. As part of the alliance games, free registrations will be offered for the 5 and 10-kilometre categories. This proposal expands the reach of the alliance games beyond international university competitions and reinforces the promotion of physical activity, healthy habits, and participation in sporting events within the city.
EUNICE, an alliance aimed at connecting european universities, is part of the activities promoted by EUNICE (european university for personalised education), which includes ten european universities, including the university of cantabria. Through academic, cultural, and sports initiatives, EUNICE promotes cooperation among institutions and facilitates new opportunities for training, mobility, and international exchange for its university communities. In this context, the alliance games serve as a meeting point for students from different countries, allowing them to share experiences and strengthen their sense of belonging to a european university community.
